An efficient and stable LDH-derived Ni catalyst for highly selective hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines

Transformation of nitriles into amines is highly desired, yet stable non-noble metal heterogeneous catalysts for efficiently selective production of primary amine are still lacking.Herein, for the first time we reported a Zr-doped yolk-shell structured Ni-based catalyst derived from layered double hydroxides (LDH) in the selective hydrogenation of nitriles to primary amines. The prepared catalyst exhibited higher primary amine yield (benzylamine yield >99.9 %) and significantly higher stability (>200 h) than highly efficient Ni catalysts that are reported previously in the selective hydrogenation of benzonitrile. Other nitriles are transformed into primary amines with good yields (90–100 %). The strong interaction between Ni0yolk and shell investsNiAl catalysts with robust stability. Importantly, Zr promotes the migration of Ni2+in the shell, resulting in appropriate acidity and better hydrogen activation capability, which drives the reaction aggressively to the BA formation pathway, and thussuccessfully enhances the yield of primary amine above 99.9 %.