Ionic-liquid-like copolymer stabilized nanocatalysts in ionic liquids: II. Rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation of arenes

Rhodium nanoparticles stabilized by the ionic-liquid-like copolymer poly[(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone)-co-(1-vinyl-3-butylimidazolium chloride)] were used to catalyze the hydrogenation of benzene and other arenes in ILs. The nanoparticle catalysts can endure forcing conditions (75 °C, 40 bar H₂), resulting in high reaction rates and high conversions compared with other nanoparticles that operate in ILs. The hydrogenation of benzene attained record total turnovers of 20,000, and the products were easily separated without being contaminated by the catalysts. Other substrates, including alkyl-substituted arenes, phenol, 4-n-propylphenol, 4-methoxylphenol, and phenyl-methanol, were studied and in most cases were found to afford partially hydrogenated products in addition to cyclohexanes. In-depth investigations on reaction optimization, including characterization of copolymers, transmission electron microscopy, and an infrared spectroscopic study of nanocatalysts, were also undertaken.