Highly selective hydrogenation of arenes using nanostructured ruthenium catalysts modified with a carbon–nitrogen matrix

	X. Cui, A.-E. Surkus, K. Junge, C. Topf, J. Radnik, C. Kreyenschulte. M. Beller Nature Communications April 2016, DOI:10.1038/ncomms11326, Reproduced with permission

Ru nanoparticles supported on a nitrogen-doped carbon material obtained from ruthenium chloride and dicyanamide catalysts are stable and display both excellent activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of aromatic ethers, phenols as well as other functionalized substrates to the corresponding alicyclic reaction products. The selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived arenes, such as lignin building blocks, plays a pivotal role in the exploitation of novel sustainable feedstocks. The work led by Professor Beller recently appeared in Nature Communications (DOI:10.1038/ncomms11326)

http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2016/160426/ncomms11326/full/ncomms11326.html