FePd alloy nanoparticles assembled on reduced graphene oxide as a catalyst for selective transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines using ammonia borane as a hydrogen source

Addressed herein is a facile protocol for the synthesis and assembly of FePd alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to catalyze transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines under ambient conditions. 3.5 nm FePd NPs were synthesized by using a surfactant-assisted co-reduction method that allowed NP composition control. FePd NPs were then assembled on rGO via a liquid-phase self-assembly method and studied as catalysts to promote hydrogen transfer from ammonia borane (AB) to numerous nitroarenes in aqueous methanol solutions at room temperature. Among three different rGO-FePd, the commercial C-Pd and rGO-Pd catalysts tested, rGO-Fe48Pd52 showed the highest efficiency in converting nitroarenes to anilines, achieving >90% yields within 10-20 min of reactions. Our work demonstrates an efficient and selective approach to transfer hydrogenation of nitroarenes to anilines.