Pt-Re/rGO bimetallic catalyst for highly selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamylalcohol

In the present work, a series of Pt-based catalysts, alloyed with a second metal, i.e., Re, Sn, Er, La, and Y, and supported on activated carbon, ordered mesoporous carbon, N-doped mesoporous carbon or reduced graphene oxide (rGO), have been developed for selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamylalcohol. Re and rGO were proved to be the most favorable metal dopant and catalyst support, respectively. Pt50Re50/rGO showed the highest cinnamylalcohol selectivity of 89% with 94% conversion of cinnamaldehyde at the reaction conditions of 120 °C, 2.0 MPa H2 and 4 h.