Reduced Graphene Oxides as Carbocatalysts in Acceptorless Dehydrogenation of N-Heterocycles

Thecatalytic properties of graphene-derived materials are evaluated in acceptorless dehydrogenation of N-heterocycles. Among them, reduced graphene oxides (rGOs) are active (quantitative yields in 23 h) under mild conditions (130 °C) and act as efficient heterogeneous carbocatalysts. rGO exhibits reusability and stability at least during eight consecutive runs. Mechanistic investigations supported by experimental evidence (i.e., organic molecules as model compounds, purposely addition of metal impurities and selective functional group masking experiments) suggest a preferential contribution of ketone carbonyl groups as active sites for this transformation.
Supported by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER (Grant Nos. RTI2018-098237-B-C21, RTI2018-098237-B-C22, and PID2019-105881RB-I00), Generalitat Valenciana (No. PROMETEU/2020/028), and Universitat Jaume I (No. UJI-B2018-23).