Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1981, 46, 1947-1957
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19811947

Kinetics and mechanism of hydrogenation of nitrobenzene by [diaquocobaloxime + amine] system

Stanislaw Tyrlika, Michal Kwiecińskia and Lech Kawczyńskib

a Institute of Organic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-961 Warsaw, Poland
b Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-961 Warsaw, Poland

Abstract

The initial rate of nitrobenzene hydrogenation catalyzed homogeneously by cobaloximes is second order in cobalt and is inhibited by an excess of nitrobenzene. It also strongly depends upon cobaloxime : amino ratio. These observations were rationalized in terms of binuclear nitrobenzene-complexed intermediate as crucial in the catalytic cycle. This assumption was further supported by the unusual selectivity of cobaloxime system, which does not catalyze hydrogenation of ortho-substituted nitrobenzenes.