Preparation of magnetically separable Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–graphene catalyst and its application in selective reduction of nitroarenes

•A magnetically separable Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–G catalyst was prepared for the first time.•The catalyst was used as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes.•The prepared catalyst can be readily recovered and reused.

A magnetically separable and highly active Co–Cu mixed spinel catalyst, Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–graphene (Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–G), was fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The results demonstrated that the Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–G possessed excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of a broad range of nitroarenes in the presence of NaBH4. The composite catalyst was efficient, stable, low-cost and could be easily recovered due to its magnetic separability.

Graphical abstractA superparamagnetic and highly active Co–Cu mixed spinel catalyst, Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–graphene (Cu6/7Co1/7Fe2O4–G), was fabricated by a hydrothermal method and was used as an efficient catalyst for the reduction of nitroarenes.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide