Pd–Co Bimetallic Nanoparticles Immobilized\non Mesoporous Niobium Silica for Selective Hydrogenation of 3‑Nitrostyrene

Designing efficient\ncatalysts for the preferential hydrogenation\nof vinyl groups is a pivotal challenge in the production of pharmaceuticals,\nagrochemicals, fine chemicals, dyes, and other valuable compounds.\nHerein, we developed evenly dispersed bimetallic Pd–Co nanoparticles\non mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSNs) for selective hydrogenation\nof a model compound 3-nitrostyrene. By tuning the Pd/Co molar ratio\nand solvents, the efficiency of 3-nitrostyrene hydrogenation to 3-ethylnitrobenzene\nwith the Pd<sub>1</sub>–Co<sub>1</sub>/MSN-Nb catalyst was\nwell optimized; while 3-nitrostyrene was converted entirely, the selectivity\nof 3-ethylnitrobenzene was up to 95%. Moreover, this catalyst was\nstable and compatible with styrene and its derivatives. Further characterization\nresults indicated that the combined effect of Pd-based metal nanoparticles\nand MSN-Nb and the electronic interaction between Pd and Co components\nin the Pd<sub>1</sub>–Co<sub>1</sub>/MSN-Nb catalyst have significant\nimportance in the hydrogenation of 3-nitrostyrene. The aforementioned\ncatalytic system will prove invaluable in guiding the selective hydrogenation\nof vinyl groups.