Photocatalytic reduction of aromatic nitro compounds using CdSnanostructure under blue LED irradiation

the aromatic nitro compounds reduced with a high selectivity to the corresponding amines under blueLED irradiation (3 W) using CdS nanostructure as photocatalyst. The reaction is relatively sensitive to theelectron demands of the substituents. The nitro compounds with electron withdrawing groups (CN, COR,NO2) give higher yields than with the electron donating groups (OMe, Me). In the nitro compounds withlow activity, the high yields of corresponding amines were achieved by the addition of ammonium format.The CdS nanostructure showed excellent photocatalytic performance for the reduction of nitrobenzenecompared with commercial CdS (Aldrich) under visible LED irradiation. The results demonstrated that CdSnanostructure have potential to provide a promising visible light driven photocatalyst for the selectivereduction of nitro compounds to corresponding amines under mild conditions. The excellent reusabilityof the photocatalyst was examined for six runs.

Photocatalysis, CdS nanostructure, Aromatic nitro compounds, LED irradiation