A green approach for efficient p-nitrophenol hydrogenation catalyzed by a Pd-based nanocatalyst

•Ultra-fine Pd dispersed on Fe3O4 was synthesized by utilizing electrostatic interaction.•By far the greenest catalytic system for p-nitrophenol hydrogenation has been built.•The catalysis was carried out at room temperature using 1 atm of H2 in water.•Pd–Fe3O4 shows 8 times higher catalytic activity than that of commercial Pd/C.

A magnetically recyclable nanocatalyst, Pd–Fe3O4, has been synthesized through a simple one-pot, cost effective method. The electrostatic interaction between the catalyst and the support in the synthesis led to the formation of highly dispersed ultra-fine Pd clusters supported on magnetite. The Pd-based catalyst shows a turnover frequency of 476 h− 1, which is eight times higher in the efficiency for p-nitrophenol (PNP) hydrogenation than that of the commercial Pd/C (62 h− 1) under ambient conditions in water. This efficient and green chemical transformation system for the PNP hydrogenation shows promising perspective.

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