Polyethylene glycol-stabilized platinum nanoparticles: The efficient and recyclable catalysts for selective hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene to o-chloroaniline

In the present work, platinum nanoparticles were prepared by in situ reduction with polyethylene glycols (PEGs). The catalytic performance of Pt nanoparticles immobilized in PEGs (Pt-PEGs) is discussed for the hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB). A high selectivity to o-chloroaniline (o-CAN) of about 99.7% was obtained with the Pt-PEGs catalysts at the complete conversion of o-CNB, which is much higher than that (83.4%) obtained over the conventional catalyst of Pt/C. The Pt nanoparticles could be immobilized in PEGs stably and recycled for four times with the same activity and selectivity. It presents a promising performance in the hydrogenation and its wide application in catalytic reactions is expected.

Graphical abstractPlatinum nanoparticles were prepared and stabilized in polyethylene glycols (PEGs) successfully, and a high selectivity (>98%) to o-chloroaniline in the hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene was obtained.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide