Palladium Nanoparticles Supported on Nitrogen-Functionalized Active Carbon: A Stable and Highly Efficient Catalyst for the Selective Hydrogenation of Nitroarenes

Nitrogen‐functionalized active carbon‐supported ultrasmall Pd nanoparticles were conveniently prepared by using a postloading method. The Pd catalyst was highly active and selective for the hydrogenation of nitroarenes at room temperature under ambient pressure. Reducible groups such as ketone, carboxylic acid, and ester were not hydrogenated, and the corresponding anilines were obtained quantitatively. The Pd catalyst demonstrated high stability and could be reused 10 times without the loss of catalytic performance. Be active, be fit! A facile method to prepare nitrogen‐functionalized active carbon (NAC) has been described. The small‐sized Pd nanoparticles are supported on NAC by using a postloading method. The representative catalyst Pd@NAC‐800 demonstrated high activity and selectivity for the selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes under mild reaction conditions.