Controlled hydrogenation of aromatic compounds by platinum nanowire catalysts

Aromatic hydrogenation to form cyclohexane derivatives is one of the most important steps in both the petrochemical industry, for clean diesel fuel generation, and the pharmaceutical industry, for safe drug synthesis. We report herein, pure ultra-thin Pt nanowire catalysts with no supporting matrix and their high activities towards the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds (>99% conversion, 1 MPa initial hydrogen pressure, 70 °C). The catalysts can also be recycled up to 40 times with no loss in activity.