Tuning the behavior of Au an Pt catalysts for the chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds

Efficient catalysts for the synthesis of functionalized anilines from the corresponding substituted nitroaromatics should combine an excellent chemoselectivity with a high hydrogenation activity. Attempts to increase the activity of the Au/TiO(2) catalyst and to improve the selectivity of traditional Pt catalysts, based on a previous understanding of the mode of action of supported gold and platinum nanoparticles, are reviewed and discussed.