Effective Hydrogenation of Haloaromatic Nitro Compounds Catalysed by Iridium Nanoparticles Deposited on Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

Iridium nanoparticles immobilized on multiwall carbon nanotubes composites were synthesized using anhydrous iridium trichloride as a precursor. The as-prepared composites were applied as catalysts for the hydrogenation of haloaromatic nitro compounds at room temperature and balloon hydrogen pressure in a methanol/water mixture, showing a selectivity of 99.9% to p-chloroaniline at complete conversion of p-chloronitrobenzene. Moreover, the catalysts also exhibited excellent catalytic properties for the reactants with electron-accepting, electron-donating, and heterocycle groups. The high activity and selectivity of the catalyst was probably attributed to the interaction such as competitive adsorption and hydrogen bonding between solvent water and reactants.