Commercial Cu2 Cr2 O5 Decorated with Iron Carbide Nanoparticles as a Multifunctional Catalyst for Magnetically Induced Continuous-Flow Hydrogenation of Aromatic Ketones

Abstract

Copper chromite is decorated with iron carbide nanoparticles, producing a magnetically activatable multifunctional catalytic system. This system (ICNPs@Cu₂ Cr₂ O₅ ) can reduce aromatic ketones to aromatic alcohols when exposed to magnetic induction. Under magnetic excitation, the ICNPs generate locally confined hot spots, selectively activating the Cu₂ Cr₂ O₅ surface while the global temperature remains low (≈80 °C). The catalyst selectively hydrogenates a scope of benzylic and non-benzylic ketones under mild conditions (3 bar H₂ , heptane), while ICNPs@Cu₂ Cr₂ O₅ or Cu₂ Cr₂ O₅ are inactive when the same global temperature is adjusted by conventional heating. A flow reactor is presented that allows the use of magnetic induction for continuous-flow hydrogenation at elevated pressure. The excellent catalytic properties of ICNPs@Cu₂ Cr₂ O₅ for the hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfuralacetone are conserved for at least 17 h on stream, demonstrating for the first time the application of a magnetically heated catalyst to a continuously operated hydrogenation reaction in the liquid phase.

Keywords: continuous flow; heterogeneous catalysis; magnetic induction; multifunctional catalyst; selective hydrogenation.