Efficient room-temperature hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds to primary amines using nitrogen-doped carbon-supported palladium catalysts

Hydrogenation of nitro compounds is a cost-effective approach to the synthesis of amines, but it is typically limited by harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we report the development of novel nitrogen-doped carbon-supported palladium (Pd/CN) catalysts that can efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds to produce primary amines under mild conditions (room temperature and atmospheric H2 pressure). Control experiments reveal that Pd nanoparticles are the active centers. Additionally, the nitrogen-rich doping of the carbon support provides abundant anchoring sites for Pd centers, which is likely the key to room-temperature activity. With the optimized Pd2.0/CN-300 catalyst, a variety of primary amines could be synthesized in high yields. This study demonstrates a successful strategy for developing novel supported catalysts for mild hydrogenation reactions.