Hydrogen-free hydrogenation of nitrobenzene via direct coupling with cyclohexanol dehydrogenation over ordered mesoporous MgO/SBA-15 supported Cu nanoparticles

Coupling of nitrobenzene and cyclohexanol over mesoporous Cu/MgO-SBA15 exhibited better conversion of 89% cyclohexanol, 82% nitrobenzene with remarkable yields of cyclohexanone (83%) and aniline (75%). The catalyst has stable activity up to 30 h.