Co-N-doped carbon nanotubes supported on diatomite for highly efficient catalysis oxidative carbonylation of amines with CO and air

[Display omitted] •Cobalt oxide based nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes on diatomite were obtained.•The resulting material was fund to be excellent catalysts for the oxidative carbonylation of amines with CO and air.•The catalyst showed higher activity than Pd(OAc)2 under the same condition.•The catalyst could be easily recovered and reused for several times with high activity. Cobalt-nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes stably supported on diatomite were obtained by employing Co(OAc)2/phenanthroline. The resulting material was found to be excellent catalysts for the carbonylation of a variety of amines with CO other than phosgene. Both high activity and selectivity were achieved in this carbonylation process, and it allows air as a cheap oxidizing agent. Moreover the catalyst could be recycled for several times with relatively higher activity compared to homogeneous catalyst palladium acetate.