Encapsulation of Nickel Nanoparticles and Homopoly(Vinylsulfonic Acid) in Mesoporous Carbon CMK-3 as an Acid–Metal Bifunctional Catalyst for Tandem Reductive Amination

Abstract

Facile and clean transformation for synthesizing secondary arylamines through one-pot reductive amination of aniline has been catalyzed by supported nickel nanocluster and poly(vinylsulfonic acid) into mesoporous carbon CMK-3 (Ni/PVSA/CMK-3) as a bi-functional metal/acid heterogeneous catalyst. Vinylsulfonic acid has been polymerized in CMK-3 pores by an in situ method. The process was run in the presence of NaBH4 at room temperature, in a short reaction time, and without secondary product. Various characterization techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, TG, BET, SEM, TEM, DRS-UV, and AAS were employed to disclose the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst. Reaction results demonstrate t..