Selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline in dense phase carbon dioxide over Ni/γ-Al2O3: Significance of molecular interactions

The selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene (NB) over Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalysts was investigated using different media of dense phase CO2, ethanol, and n-hexane. In dense phase CO2, the total rate of NB hydrogenation was larger than that in organic solvents under similar reaction conditions; the selectivity to the desired product, aniline, was almost 100% over the whole conversion range of 0–100%. The phase behavior of the reactant mixture in/under dense phase CO2 was examined at reaction conditions. In situ high-pressure Fourier transform infrared measurements were made to study the molecular interactions of CO2 with the following reactant and reaction intermediates: NB, nitrosobenzene (NSB), and N-phenylhydroxylamine (PHA). Dense phase CO2 strongly interacts with NB, NSB, and PHA, modifying the reactivity of each species and contributing to positive effects on the reaction rate and the selectivity to aniline. A possible reaction pathway for the hydrogenation of NB in/under dense phase CO2 over Ni/γ-Al2O3 is also proposed.