Palladium-Gold Alloy Nanocatalysts with Electron-Deficient Surfaces Ultrafast Nitroarene High Chemoselective Hydrogenation via Concerted Molecular Hydrogen Transfer in Water
摘要
We present an innovative catalytic system employing secondary phosphine oxide (SPO)-stabilized palladium-gold nanoalloys (SPO-Au/Pd-NPs) for the sustainable synthesis of aromatic amines in aqueous media. This engineered catalyst demonstrates exceptional chemoselectivity (>99% in most cases) and activity (TOF up to 4.759 h–1) in the hydrogenation of diverse nitroarenes and N-heterocycles. Mechanistic studies reveal that the synergistic interplay between the bimetallic Pd/Au nanoalloy core and SPO ligands enables: (1) spatial confinement of reactants through alloy effect, (2) dual activation pathways for both molecular hydrogen and nitro groups, and (3) water-mediated proton transfer networks that suppress undesired side reactions. Notably, the aqueous environment facilitates a unique self-assembly process where hydration layers organize reactant molecules at the catalyst interface, achieving near-quantitative yields (>99%) under mild conditions (25°C, 1 atm H2). The catalyst’s heterogeneous nature permits phase separation post-reaction, enabling efficient recovery with retained activity (>95% over 6 cycles) through simple decantation. This protocol eliminates the need for organic solvents or energy-intensive procedures, establishing a new paradigm for green amine synthesis with atomic precision.