Preparation of N‐doped Co/NC‐CeO 2 ‐hmta by pyrolysis of Co‐Ce‐Salen/hmta toward hydrogenation of nitroarenes under N 2 H 4

Since catalytic chemoselective reduction of corresponding nitroarenes is a significant route to produce functionalized anilines, developing inexpensive and highly active catalyst is imperia. Herein, the Co‐Ce‐H 2 salen‐hmta composite was first prepared by grinded completely the mixture of Co‐H 2 Salen and hexamethylenetetramine (hmta) in 1:1 mol ratio in a mortar. The 3d–4f hetero‐metal Co‐Ce‐H 2 salen coordination polymer acted as a support precursor and hmta provided the nitrogen source. Then, a target catalyst of Co/NC‐CeO 2 ‐hmta were afforded by pyrolysis of Co‐Ce‐H 2 salen‐hmta composite at 800°C in the presence of argon atmosphere. When the target catalyst of Co/NC‐CeO 2 ‐hmta and reference catalysts were applied for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes under N 2 H 4 , the target catalyst of Co/NC‐CeO 2 ‐hmta exhibited better performance than reference catalysts in terms of conversion, yield, selectivity, and recyclability. Spectral analysis suggested that the high catalytic performance of a target catalyst of Co/NC‐CeO 2 ‐hmta were attributed to highly dispersed metallic Co 0 , rich oxygen vacancies, and nitrogen‐doped carbon matrix.