MOF-Derived Cu-Nanoparticle Embedded in Porous Carbon for the Efficient Hydrogenation of Nitroaromatic Compounds

Abstract Novel Cu-nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in porous carbon materials (Cu@C-x) were prepared by one-pot pyrolysis of metal–organic frameworks (MOF) HKUST-1 at different temperatures. The obtained material Cu@C-x was used as a cost-effective catalyst for the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene using NaBH 4 as the reducing agent under mild reaction conditions. By considering the catalyst preparation and the catalytic activity, a pyrolysis temperature of 400 °C was finally chosen to synthesize the optimal catalyst. When the aromatic nitro compounds with reducible groups, such as cyano, halogen, and alkyl groups, were tested in this catalytic hydrogenation, an excellent selectivity approaching 100% was achieved. In the recycling experiment, a significant decrease in nitrobenzene conversion was observed in the third cycle, mainly due to the very small amount of catalyst employed in the reaction. Hence, the easily prepared and cost-effective Cu@C-400 catalyst fabricated in this study demonstrates potential for the applications in selective reduction of aromatic nitro compounds. Graphic Abstract The catalyst Cu@C-400 exhibited 100 % conversion and high selectivity for the hydrogenation of industrially relevant nitroarenes.