Co‐MOF‐Derived Hierarchical Mesoporous Yolk‐shell‐structured Nanoreactor for the Catalytic Reduction of Nitroarenes with Hydrazine Hydrate

Abstract

Abstract Porous nanoreactors demonstrate immense potential for applications in heterogeneous catalysis due to their excellent mass‐transfer performance and stability. The design of a simple, universal strategy for fabricating nanoreactor catalysts is of significance for organic transformation. In this study, a nanoreactor with a hierarchical mesoporous yolk‐shell structure was successfully prepared by the high‐temperature carbonization of a ZIF‐67@polymer composite. The core of the resultant Co@ZDC@mC material comprised Co NPs anchored in the ZIF‐67‐derived carbon framework, while the shell comprised resin‐polymer‐derived mesoporous carbon. The as‐obtained Co@ZDC@mC‐700 catalyst enriched reactants, efficiently catalyzed the reaction in the core, and permitted the desorption of the product from the nanoreactor. In the catalytic reduction of nitrobenzene with N 2 H 4 ⋅H 2 O, Co@ZDC@mC‐700 exhibited superior catalytic efficiency (TOF=1136.3 h −1 ). In addition, Co@ZDC@mC‐700 exhibited excellent performance for the catalytic reduction of various functionalized nitroarenes, as well as good reusability and recyclability. Hence, a simple, useful approach for fabricating a metal‐organic‐framework‐derived non‐noble metal‐based yolk‐shell nanoreactor for effective catalytic transformation is proposed.