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

A magnetically separable and highly active Co–Cu mixed spinel catalyst, Cu 6/7 Co 1/7 Fe 2 O 4 –graphene (Cu 6/7 Co 1/7 Fe 2 O 4 –G), was fabricated by a hydrothermal method. The results demonstrated that the Cu 6/7 Co 1/7 Fe 2 O 4 –G possessed excellent catalytic activity for the reduction of a broad range of nitroarenes in the presence of NaBH 4 . The composite catalyst was efficient, stable, low-cost and could be easily recovered due to its magnetic separability.