Accessing 2‐Aryl Quinolines via Acceptorless Dehydrogenation and Transfer Hydrogenation Under Base and Solvent‐Free Reaction Conditions

Abstract

Catalytic hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions are one of the most active areas of research for the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. Despite several efficient homogeneous catalysts that have already been identified, highly active heterogeneous catalysts remain elusive. Herein, we report an easy and convenient wet impregnation method for the synthesis of Pd‐nanoclusters supported on ZnO nanoparticles. The catalyst displays a multifunctional role in 2‐aryl quinolines synthesis using alcohol and 2‐nitrobenzyl alcohol as reactants via dehydrogenation/hydrogenation pathway under neat and base‐free reaction conditions. The catalyst exhibits excellent selectivity and can be recycled five times without appreciable loss in its activity.