Synergistic platinum nanoparticles and iron–nitrogen sites in nitrogen-doped iron phosphate for enhanced chemoselective hydrogenation

Nitrogen (N)-doped catalysts have garnered widespread attention in hydrogenation reactions. Nevertheless, N incorporation within phosphate-based supports remains largely unexplored. Herein, N-doped iron phosphate–supported platinum (Pt) catalysts were synthesized via ammonia gas treatment. The catalysts were examined for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes. The optimized catalyst exhibited desirable performance in the hydrogenation of p-chloronitrobenzene to form p-chloroaniline under mild conditions with 95.3 % conversion and > 99 % selectivity. The catalyst exhibited good cyclic stability and substrate universality. Comprehensive characterizations and theoretical calculations elucidated that the formation of iron (Fe)–N species enhanced the metal–support interaction and suppressed the aggregation of Pt nanoparticles, collectively facilitating the preferential adsorption of nitro groups. The synergy of Pt nanoparticles and FeN species endowed the catalyst with outstanding catalytic performance under mild conditions.