Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes catalyzed by cellulose-supported Pd NPs

•The hydrogenation can occur at atmospheric hydrogen pressure.•The reaction is performed with a recyclable catalyst in water at room temperature.•Earth-abundant and biodegradable cellulose material was used as catalyst support.•Great chemoselectivity has been achieved.

Cellulose-supported palladium nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared by straightforward deposition of metal NPs on modified cellulose. The catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity and selectivity in room-temperature hydrogenation of various nitroarenes to arylamines under atmospheric hydrogen pressure in neat water without any additives. High chemoselectivity was also achieved in the hydrogenation of substituted nitroarenes with multiple reducible groups. The catalyst can be recycled by simple centrifugation and reused for at least 4 times without significant decline of yields.