Hydrogenation of nitrobenzene using polymer bound Ru(III) complexes as catalysts

Abstract

Polymer bound ruthenium 2-aminobutanol complexes were synthesized using 2% and 8% copolymer of styrene divinylbenzene by sequential attachment or bifunctional group, followed by treatment or metal salt with the functionalised polymer beads. The various physico-chemical properties or the above beads such as surface area, moisture content, bulk

density and swelling were studied. The thermal stability or these catalysts was investigated by DTA-TG analyses and the morphology of the catalysts was seen using scanning electron microscope. Probable structure based on spectroscopic studies has been proposed and catalytic activity was evaluated for the model reaction of hydrogenation or nitrobenzene. The effect on the rate of various factors such as the concentration of the catalyst and substrate, nature or the solvent and temperature of the system was seen. The stability of the synthesized catalysts was checked by studying the life cycle or the catalyst. The homogeneous counterpart of this complex has been synthesised and the activity of the catalyst was compared with the heterogenized homogeneous system.