Stoichiometric production of aminobenzenes and ketones by photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzenes in secondary alcoholic suspension of titanium(IV) oxide under metal-free conditions

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Environmental, 2013-05, Vol.134-135, p.193-197
• Main Authors: Imamura, Kazuya, Yoshikawa, Takayuki, Hashimoto, Keiji, Kominami, Hiroshi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone; Aniline; Chemoselective; Conversion; Nitrobenzene; Nitrobenzenes; Oxides; Photocatalysis; Photocatalyst; Reduction; Stoichiometry; Titanium dioxide; Titanium(IV) oxide
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2013.01.015

[Display omitted] ► Photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzenes in 2-propanol was investigated. ► Bare titanium(IV) oxide was used as photocatalyst. ► Anilines and stoichiometric amount of acetone were simultaneously obtained. ► Nitro group of nitroaromatics having other reducible group was selectively reduced. ► Nitrobenzene was reduced even under air. Photocatalytic conversion of nitrobenzenes in 2-propanol suspensions of bare titanium(IV) oxide (TiO2) under various conditions was examined. Aniline and acetone were simultaneously produced almost stoichiometrically from a 2-propanol suspension of TiO2 containing nitrobenzene under deaerated conditions without the use of a precious metal. Nitrobenzenes having another reducible group such as vinyl, chloro and bromo were chemoselectively reduced to corresponding aminobenzenes in 2-propanol suspensions of a TiO2 photocatalyst with an almost stoichiometric amount of acetone. Photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene and oxidation of 2-propanol occurred even in the presence of oxygen, and no re-oxidation of anilines occurred.