Cobalt encapsulated in N‑doped graphene sheet for one-pot reductive amination to synthesize secondary amines

Abstract To develop an efficient base-metal reductive amination catalyst for synthesis of secondary amines is still a major challenge. In this study, an efficient N-doped graphene sheet-coated cobalt catalyst (Co@CN-800) was developed through a simple pyrolysis process, which could gave 99.5 % yield of N-benzylaniline by one-pot reductive amination of nitrobenzene with benzaldehyde during at least 5 cycles. Catalyst characterization and control experiments confirmed that the robust catalytic performance of the catalyst is probably due to the synergy effect of in situ generated Co-Nx encapsulated in N‑doped graphene layer and appropriate meso-pore structure. Additionally, The substrate adaptability of the catalyst was proved since a variety of corresponding secondary amines were smoothly obtained under relatively mild conditions, which makes the secondary amine synthesis strategy based on Co@CN-800 shows excellent application prospect.