Different Reaction Pathway for the Reduction of Aromatic Nitro Compounds on Gold Catalysts

Golden distinction: With an Au/TiO2 catalyst, the formation of condensation products during the hydrogenation of aromatic nitro compounds is avoided. Macrokinetic experiments and in situ IR measurements, which showed that nitrosobenzene is generated in only small amounts and that hydroxylamine and nitrosobenzene interact strongly with the catalyst surface, led to the proposal of a novel reaction sequence (see figure).