Bimetallic Platinum-Tin Nanoparticles on Hydrogenated Molybdenum Oxide for the Selective Hydrogenation of Functionalized Nitroarenes

Graphical Bi bi baby : Bimetallic Pt-Sn catalysts supported by hydrogenated MoO x (Pt-Sn/H-MoO x ) deliver both a high selectivity and activity for the selective hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes under mild conditions. The atom-rearranged bimetallic Pt-Sn surface and the electronic metal–support interactions with H-MoO x contribute to the high selectivity and activity, respectively. The hydrogenation of functionalized nitroarenes to the corresponding anilines is of great importance in the fine chemical industry and requires high-performance catalysts with a good activity and selectivity. Herein, hydrogenated MoO x (H-MoO x ) supported bimetallic Pt-Sn (Pt-Sn/H-MoO x ) was developed to accomplish selective and efficient hydrogenation. In the case of 4-nitrostyrene, an outstanding selectivity to 4-vinylaniline (≈93 %) with a high turnover frequency (0.094 s −1 ) was achieved under mild conditions ( T =30 °C, P =1 atm). The metal–support interactions contributed to the efficient turnover on the ultrafine nanoparticles, and the atom-rearranged bimetallic Pt-Sn surface promoted the selectivity because of the preferred adsorption of the nitro group. The good efficiency for various functionalized nitroarenes further verified the promise of Pt-Sn/H-MoO x in chemoselective hydrogenation.