Dual functional catalysis of [Nb6O19]8−

2O3
S. Kikkawa, S. Fukuda, J. Hirayama, N. Shirai, R. Takahata, K. Suzuki, K. Yamaguchi, T. Teranishi, S. Yamazoe
Chem. Commun., Accpeted.

A catalyst prepared by modifying the surface of Au nanoparticles (NPs) on Al2O3 with [Nb6O19]8− clusters had specific base and reduction abilities, and the reduction of p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol using H2 as a reductant proceeded efficiently with the dual functional catalyst. At the interface between Au NPs and basic [Nb6O19]8−, heterolytically cleaved hydrogen species are generated, which can efficiently react with a nitrophenolate ion generated by base catalysis. Moreover, this surface modification strategy was applicable to the reduction of other nitro compounds.