Superior Monodisperse CNT-Supported CoPd (CoPd@CNT) Nanoparticles for Selective Reduction of Nitro Compounds to Primary Amines with NaBH4 in Aqueous Medium

Superior carbon nanotube furnished CoPd (CoPd@CNT) nanoparticles (NPs) were reproducibly and easily produced by sonochemical double solvent reduction method in a mild condition and the size of the CoPd NPs was found as 3.63 nm. The prepared novel catalyst were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the high resolution electron micrograph (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The sum of their results showed the formation of highly crystalline, monodisperse and colloidally stable CoPd@CNT. The catalytic performance of these novel NPs were investigated for the first time for highly selective reduction to -NO2 unlike -CN groups, in which they were found to be exceptional reusable, isolable, stable and highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst. All prepared products were obtained with perfect yield by using CoPd@CNT as a heterogeneous catalyst and NaBH4 as a hydrogen source. Our synthesis process provides a facile and eco-friendly route to CoPd@CNT, allowing further investigation of current catalysts for many other chemical reactions.