Catalyst for selective hydrogenation of nitro groups of halonitro aromatic compounds

1. A supported metal catalyst having high selectivity for hydrogenation of nitro groups of halonitro aromatic compounds manufactured according to a process comprising:

dispersing an organometallic complex on a solid support to form an intermediate supported catalyst, wherein the organometallic complex corresponds to formula I

wherein,

R 1 -R 6 comprise, independent of one another, one or more of an R, OR, OC(═O)R, or halide, wherein R stands for an alkyl, an aryl, or a hydrogen;

Y 1 -Y 4 are independently an O or S atom; and

M is a metal atom; and

reducing the metal atoms in order to activate the intermediate supported catalyst, wherein after dispersing and prior to and during activation, the organometallic complex is not exposed to oxygen at a temperature greater than about 100° C.

2. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein prior to and during use, the supported metal catalyst is not exposed to oxygen at a temperature greater than about 100° C.

3. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein reducing the metal atoms is performed by exposing the intermediate supported catalyst to hydrogen.

4. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein reducing the metal atoms is performed by exposing the intermediate supported catalyst to at least one of methanol, phenol, an aldehyde, formaldehyde, ethylene glycol, methane, ethylene, acetylene, or propylene.

5. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein reducing the metal atoms is performed at a temperate less than about 160° C. in a substantially oxygen free environment.

6. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is dispersed on the support using a solvent.

7. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 6 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylem, chloromethane, ethers, ketenes, THF, dichloromethane, benzene, and mixtures thereof.

8. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein M comprises one or more platinum group metals.

9. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 8 , wherein M comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, and combinations thereof.

10. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises hydroxyl groups on the surface thereof that bond to at least a portion of organic ligands of the organometallic complex.

11. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises carbon.

12. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 11 , wherein the solid support comprises at least member selected from the group consisting of carbon black, activated carbon, graphite, fluorinated carbon, and mixtures thereof.

13. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises at least member selected from the group consisting of polymers, inorganic solids, metals, metal alloys, and mixtures thereof.

14. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein the solid support comprises at least member selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, titania, kieselguhr, diatomaceous earth, betonite, clay, zirconia, magnesia, metal oxides, zeolites, calcium carbonate, and mixtures thereof.

15. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein each of R 1 -R 4 is a CH 3 group and R 5 and R 6 are each a hydrogen.

16. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein R 1 -R 4 are independently a methyl, benzene, or substituted benzene group.

17. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein R 1 -R 4 each comprise at least one carbon atom.

18. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 1 , wherein R 5 and R 6 are independently a hydrogen, methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, benzene, substituted benzene, Cl, or Br group.

19. A process for manufacturing an haloamino aromatic compound comprising hydrogenating at least one nitro group of a halonitro aromatic compound in the presence of the catalyst of claim 1 .

20. A process as in claim 19 , wherein the halonitro aromatic compound has the formula

wherein for the halonitro aromatic compound

R 1 signifies hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, C 1 -C 12 -halogen-alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -halogen-aryl, C 3 -C 6 -halogen-heteroaryl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, C 1 -C 12 -hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkylcycloalkyl substituted by C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -aryl, C 7 -C 16 -aralkyl, C 3 -C 6 -heterocycloalkyl, C 3 -C 16 -heteroaryl, C 4 -C 16 -heteroaralkyl, SO 3 H, SO 2 R 2 , SO 2 N(R 2 ) 2 , or a group-Y 1 R 2 ;

Y 1 signifies NR 2 , oxygen or sulfur;

R 2 signifies hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, C 1 -C 12 -halogen-alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -halogen-aryl, C 3 -C 16 -halogen heteroaryl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, C 1 -C 12 -hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkylcycloalkyl, C 6 -C 16 -aryl, C 7 -C 16 -aralkyl, C 3 -C 6 -hetercycloalkyl, C 3 -C 16 -heteroaryl, or C 4 -C 16 -heteroaralkyl;

X signifies fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine; and

r,s, and t, independent of one another, signify a number 1, 2, or 3, whereby r+s+t is less than or equal to six.

21. A supported metal catalyst having high selectivity for hydrogenation of nitro groups of halonitro aromatic compounds, comprising:

a carbon support; and

highly dispersed metal on the carbon support, said highly dispersed being provided by:

dispersing and then reducing an organometallic complex on a solid support, wherein the organometallic complex initially corresponds to formula I prior to reducing

wherein,

R 1 -R 6 comprise, independent of one another, one or more of an R, OR, OC(═O)R, or halide, wherein R stands for an alkyl, an aryl, or a hydrogen;

Y 1 -Y 4 are independently an O or S atom; and

M comprises a metal atom selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, and mixtures thereof,

wherein after dispersing prior to and during reducing, the organometallic complex is not exposed to oxygen at a temperature greater than about 100° C.

22. A supported metal catalyst as in claim 21 , the reducing being performed at a temperature less than about 90° C.

23. A process for manufacturing an amino aromatic compound, comprising:

hydrogenating at least one nitro group of a halonitro aromatic compound in the presence of the catalyst according to claim 21 ,

wherein the halonitro aromatic compound has the formula:

wherein, for the halonitro aromatic compound

R 1 signifies hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, C 1 -C 12 -halogen-alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -halogen-aryl, C 3 -C 6 -halogen-heteroaryl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, C 1 -C 12 -hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl substituted by C 1 -C 4 -alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -aryl, C 7 -C 16 -aralkyl, C 3 -C 6 -heterocycloalkyl, C 3 -C 16 -heteroaryl, C 4 -C 16 -heteroaralkyl, SO 3 H, SO 2 R 2 , SO 2 N(R 2 ) 2 , or a group-Y 1 R 2 ;

Y 1 signifies NR 2 , oxygen or sulfur;

R 2 signifies hydrogen, C 1 -C 12 -alkyl, C 1 -C 12 -halogen-alkyl, C 6 -C 16 -halogen-aryl, C 3 -C 16 -halogen heteroaryl, C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkylphenyl, halogen-C 1 -C 4 -alkoxyphenyl, C 1 -C 12 -hydroxyalkyl, C 3 -C 8 -cycloalkyl, C 6 -C 16 -aryl, C 7 -C 16 -aralkyl, C 3 -C 6 -hetercycloalkyl, C 3 -C 16 -heteroaryl, or C 4 -C 16 -heteroaralkyl;

X signifies fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine; and

r,s, and t, independently of one another, signify a number 1, 2 or 3, whereby r+s+t is less than or equal to six.