Catalytic Hydrogenation of Substituted Quinolines on Co–Graphene Composites

A set of 20 composites was prepared by pyrolysis of Co²⁺ complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline, melamine and 1,2-diaminobenzene. These composites were tested as the catalysts for the hydrogenation of quinolines. As shown by powder X-ray diffraction and TEM, the composited contained Co particles of several dozen nm sizes. The composition (elements content), Raman spectra X-ray photoelectron spectra parameters of the composites were analyzed. It was found that there was no distinct factor that controlled the yield of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines in the investigated process. The yields of the respective products were in the range 90–100 %. The three most active composites were selected for scale-up and hydrogenation of a series of substituted quinolines. Up to 97 % yield of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline was obtained on a 50 g scale. Five representative substituted quinolines were synthesized on a 10–20 grams scale using the Co-containing composites as the catalysts.