Facile fabrication of γ-Fe2O3-nanoparticle modified N-doped porous carbon materials for the efficient hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds

Novel γ-Fe₂O₃-nanoparticle modified N-doped porous carbon materials were facilely prepared and used for efficient catalytic hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds.

Reduction of selective polyaromatic nitrotriptycene via an azoxytriptycene intermediate under ambient conditions using a cobalt/cobalt oxide nanocomposite (CoNC)

Selectively targeted polyaromatic 2-nitrotriptycene (M1) and 2,6,14-trinitrotriptycene (M2) were chosen as model substrates for demonstrating catalytic hydrogenation, under ambient conditions, using a cobalt/cobalt oxide based nanocomposite (CoNC) as the catalytic material.

Proof of Concept: Magnetic Fixation of Dendron-Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Containing Palladium Nanoparticles for Continuous-Flow Suzuki Coupling Reactions

A new concept for the magnetic immobilization of catalytically active material has been developed for continuous-flow Suzuki cross-coupling reactions. The reversible immobilization of the magnetic catalyst material inside a novel capillary microreactor has been achieved by utilizing a newly designed reactor housing with 208 small permanent magnets. As a catalyst material, magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles decorated with polyphenylenepyridyl dendrons and loaded with Pd nanoparticles have been employed. Both batch and continuous-flow experiments prove the activity of the catalyst and the applicability of this new microreactor concept.

Nitroarene reduction: a trusted model reaction to test nanoparticle catalysts

Nitrophenol reduction to aminophenol with a reducing agent is conveniently carried out in aqueous medium mainly with a metal or metal oxide catalyst. This reduction is presently considered as a benchmark reaction to test a catalyst nanoparticle. Thousands of original reports have enriched this field of nanoparticle catalyzed reaction. Synthesis of different metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and their composites along with their role as catalysts for nitrophenol reduction with varying reducing agents have been elucidated here. The progress of the reaction is conveniently monitored by UV-visible spectrophotometry and hence it becomes a universally accepted model reaction. In this review we have discussed the reaction kinetics considering its elegance and importance enlightening the long known Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism and Eley-Rideal mechanism at length, along with a few other mechanisms recently reported. A brief description of the synthetic procedures of various nanoparticles and their respective catalytic behaviour towards nitroarene reduction has also been accounted here.

Designing versatile heterogeneous catalysts based on Ag and Au nanoparticles decorated on chitosan functionalized graphene oxide

Herein we report the covalent grafting of chitosan on graphene oxide (GO) followed by a simple approach for anchoring silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles onto a chitosan grafted graphene oxide surface by a NaBH4 reduction method. Catalytic activity of prepared heterogeneous GO grafted chitosan stabilized silver and gold nanocatalysts (GO-Chit-Ag/AuNPs) was explored for the reduction of aromatic nitroarenes and degradation of hazardous azo dyes in the presence of NaBH4. Both catalysts were found to exhibit excellent catalytic activity towards the reduction of aromatic nitroarenes and azo dyes degradation. Furthermore, the nanocatalysts were found to be selective towards the reduction of nitro groups in halonitroarenes without any dehalogenation under mild conditions.

Activation of the Solid Silica Layer of Aerosol-Based C/SiO₂ Particles for Preparation of Various Functional Multishelled Hollow Microspheres

Double-shelled C/SiO2 hollow microspheres with an outer nanosheet-like silica shell and an inner carbon shell were reported. C/SiO2 aerosol particles were synthesized first by a one-step rapid aerosol process. Then the solid silica layer of the aerosol particles was dissolved and regrown on the carbon surface to obtain novel C/SiO2 double-shelled hollow microspheres. The new microspheres prepared by the facile approach possess high surface area and pore volume (226.3 m(2) g(-1), 0.51 cm(3) g(-1)) compared with the original aerosol particles (64.3 m(2) g(-1), 0.176 cm(3) g(-1)), providing its enhanced enzyme loading capacity. The nanosheet-like silica shell of the hollow microspheres favors the fixation of Au NPs (C/SiO2/Au) and prevents them from growing and migrating at 500 °C. Novel C/C and C/Au/C (C/Pt/C) hollow microspheres were also prepared based on the hollow nanostructure. C/C microspheres (482.0 m(2) g(-1), 0.92 cm(3) g(-1)) were ideal electrode materials. In particular, the Au NPs embedded into the two carbon layers (C/Au/C, 431.2 m(2) g(-1), 0.774 cm(3) g(-1)) show a high catalytic activity and extremely chemical stability even at 850 °C. Moreover, C/SiO2/Au, C/Au/C microspheres can be easily recycled and reused by an external magnetic field because of the presence of Fe3O4 species in the inner carbon shell. The synthetic route reported here is expected to simplify the fabrication process of double-shelled or yolk-shell microspheres, which usually entails multiple steps and a previously synthesized hard template. Such a capability can facilitate the preparation of various functional hollow microspheres by interfacial design.

Recent developments in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction: 2010-2014

The Suzuki-Miyaura reaction (SMR), involving the coupling of an organoboron reagent and an organic halide or pseudo-halide in the presence of a palladium or nickel catalyst and a base, has arguably become one of most utilized tools for the construction of a C-C bond. This review intends to be general account of all types of catalytic systems, new coupling partners and applications, including the literature between September 2010 and December 2014.

Versatile hierarchical Cu/Fe3O4 nanocatalysts for efficient degradation of organic dyes prepared by a facile, controllable hydrothermal method

A novel monodispersed hierarchical nanocomposite catalyst, Cu/Fe₃O₄, aimed at efficient degradation of traditional dyes, was successfully synthesized through a short-time, facile, eco-friendly hydrothermal method.

Advancement in methodologies for reduction of nitroarenes

Recent advancement in reduction methods of nitroarenes are reviewed. The different methods are classified based on the source of hydrogen utilized during reduction and the mechanism involved in the reduction process.

Oxalate capped iron nanomaterial: from methylene blue degradation to bis(indolyl)methane synthesis

An efficient, sustainable and green procedure for the synthesis of selective orthorhombic iron(oxalate) capped Fe(0) [Fe(ox)–Fe(0)] nanomaterial is developed using sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) reduction of iron(ii) salt in the presence of oxalic acid at room temperature in water.