Colloidal nickel(0)-carboxymethyl cellulose particles: A biopolymer-inorganic catalyst for hydrogenation of nitro-aromatics and carbonyl compounds

Colloidal soln. of nickel(0) in CM-cellulose showed good catalytic efficiency in hydrogenation of arom. nitro compds., as well as aliph. and arom. ketones in aq. medium yielding the resp. arom. amines and alcs. in excellent yield along with moderate to good reusability of the catalyst.  The catalyst was isolated and characterized by powder XRD, EDX, SEM and TEM studies.  The active phase of the catalyst consists of nickel nanoparticles entrapped in CM-cellulose (Col-Ni-CMC Nps).  The ecofriendly synthesis was performed in water at room temp. by NaBH4 redn. of nickel chloride in the presence of sodium CM-cellulose (CMC).