Catalytic reduction of α-pinene using Ru nanoparticles stabilized by modified carboxymethyl cellulose

A new and environmental friendly route has been developed to hydrogenate α-pinene to cis-pinane. The α-pinene was hydrogenated using ruthenium (Ru) nanoparticles that were stabilized by modified carboxymethyl cellulose in aqueous medium. The conversion of α-pinene reached 96.6% and the selectivity of cis-pinane was 98.4%. Ru nanoparticles could be recycled 18 times. Ru nanoparticles and micelles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other detection techniques. Ru nanoparticles (3.2 nm) had a good stability and uniform distribution, the reaction was divided into micelles that appeared to act as “microreactors”, and the micelle size was increased in the absence of sodium carbonate. The good stability of the Ru nanoparticles could be attributed to electrostatic and steric stabilization.