Identification of the starting reaction position in the hydrogenation of (N-ethyl)carbazole over Raney-Ni

Hydrogenation of carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole over Raney-Ni catalyst were realized in the temperature range of 393–503 K. 4[H] adduct dominated the hydrogenation products and the formation of 2[H] adduct was the rate-limiting step during the period, in which the conversion of carbazole was less than 40%. The hydrogenation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and the hydrogenation activation energies of carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole were 90 kJ/mol and 115 kJ/mol, respectively. The reaction starting position as well as the pathway of the hydrogenation of (N-ethyl)carbazole were investigated by comparing the kinetic characteristics of hydrogen uptake of carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole. The results showed that the reaction was a stepwise hydrogenation process and the first H2 was added to the C1 = C10 double bond in the hydrogenation.