Transfer Hydrogenations of Nitrobenzene Using Glycerol as Solvent and Hydrogen Donor

Abstract

Aniline has been successfully produced by catalytic transfer hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in glycerol, which was employed as both a green solvent and a hydrogen donor. As a solvent, glycerol also facilitated easy separation of the product and recycling of the catalyst.

Keywords:

• Aniline
• catalysis
• glycerol
• green solvent
• transfer hydrogenation

Notes

^a Reaction conditions: 0.25 g nitrobenzene, 0.1 g Raney nickel, 5 mmol base, 5 g glycerol, 100 °C, 24 h.

^b The reaction was performed without Raney nickel.

^c 10 mmol base.

^d 78 h.

^e Reaction conditions: 2.5 g nitrobenzene, 0.4 g Raney nickel, 20 mmol base, 50 g glycerol, 100 °C, 72 h.

^a Reaction conditions: 0.25 g nitrobenzene, 0.1 g Raney nickel, 5 mmol NaOH, 5 g glycerol, 100 °C, 24 h.

^a Reaction conditions: 0.25 g nitobenzene, 0.1 g Raney nickel, 5 mmol NaOH, 5 g glycerol, 100 °C, 7 h.

^b Addition of fresh 5 mmol NaOH.