Synthesis of palladium nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes and graphene for the chemoselective hydrogenation of para-chloronitrobenzene

•Pd nanoparticles were synthetized over carbon nanotubes and graphene by reduction of Pd2(dba)3.•Well-dispersed metallic palladium nanoparticles of similar size were obtained over CNT and graphene.•The catalyst Pd/CNT displayed better activity than Pd/G on the p-ClNB hydrogenation.•The selectivity to p-ClAN was 100% with both catalysts.•The catalysts Pd/CNT and Pd/G displayed good recyclability behavior.

We have studied the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles over carbon nanotubes (Pd/CNT) and graphene (Pd/G) and we have tested their catalytic performance in the liquid phase chemoselective hydrogenation of para-chloronitrobenzene at room temperature. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, TEM, X-ray diffraction, infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and ICP-OES. The palladium particle size on Pd/G (3.4 nm) and Pd/CNT (2.8 nm) was similar though the deposition was higher on Pd/G. Pd/CNT was more active which can be ascribed to the different surface area and electronic properties of the Pd nanoparticles over CNT, while the selectivity was 100% to the corresponding haloaniline over both catalysts and they were quite stable upon recycling.

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