Mild-temperature hydrogenation of carbonyls over Co-ZIF-9 derived Co-ZIF-x nanoparticle catalyst

The hydrogenation of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol has been effectively carried out over Co-ZIF-x catalysts. The results show that Co-ZIF-350 composite catalyst exhibits an excellent performance to achieve 100 % conversion of cyclohexanone and >99 % selectivity of cyclohexanol under reaction conditions of 1.5 MPa H2 and 50 °C. [Display omitted] •Co-ZIF-350 porous materials are synthesized by one-step pyrolysis of zeolitic-type metal-organic framework Co-ZIF-9.•Co-ZIF-x materials exhibit excellent activity and chemoselectivity for hydrogenation of carbonyls under mild conditions.•The conversion of cyclohexanone over Co-ZIF-350 is 100 % with 99 % selectivity of cyclohexanol at 50 °C.•Some ketones/aromatic aldehydes are readily hydrogenated with the yield≥75.8 % and product selectivity > 99 %. Benzimidazole and metal cobalt salts were employed in the synthesis of Co-ZIF-9 by solvothermal crystallization. Highly active catalysts for selective hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds were developed. The optimal nanocatalyst Co-ZIF-350 manifested remarkable activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of cyclohexanone under mild conditions. Catalytic conversion of cyclohexanone reached the highest over the catalyst of Co-ZIF-9-pyrolyzed at 350 °C for 2 h, in which the conversion of cyclohexanone was 100 % and the selectivity of cyclohexanol was ＞99 % at 50 °C. A wide scope of ketones/aromatic aldehydes could be selectively reduced to the corresponding alcohols with high yields. Importantly, the nanocatalyst Co-ZIF-350 presented good tolerance of substrates with various functional groups under mild conditions.