Regulation of Ni 0 and Ni 2+ Active Species for Solvent-Free Reductive Amination of Biomass-Derived Phenol with Ammonia
Abstract
Synthesis of cyclohexylamine via reductive amination of biomass-derived phenol aligns with sustainable chemistry principles. However, the structure–activity relationships governing catalytic performance remain unexplored, which is crucial for regulating the product selectivity. In this work, an effective Ni 3 Al 1 O x catalyst was developed for reductive amination of phenol to cyclohexylamine, achieving excellent yields. Both Ni 0 and Ni 2+ species are essential, and the best Ni 2+ /Ni 0 ratio is 2.86. The optimal Ni 2+ /Ni 0 ratio of the Ni 3 Al 1 O x -600 catalyst is favorable for the adsorption of phenol and NH 3 and the desorption of cyclohexylamine, which is key for achieving superior catalytic activity and selectivity.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Catalysis for Biomass Conversion
Nanomaterials for catalytic reactions
Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Catalysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 5808–5820
- Publication date
- 12 March 2026
- Language
- EN