How does the selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol proceed when catalyzed by silver nanoparticles?

The reaction obeys a pseudo first-order kinetic model, exhibiting a rate constant of 0.1064 min⁻¹ at room temperature. The kinetic and thermodynamic results confirmed that the rate-determining step involved an electron-transfer process from adsorbed hydrogen to 4-nitrophenolate on the AgNPs surface. The AgNPs catalyst boosts the transformation. The reaction solution turns from yellow to colorless, with isosbestic spots at 280 nm and 325 nm affirming 4-AP as the sole product. NaBH4 acts as a hydrogen source.

The selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP), catalyzed by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), follows a pseudo first-order kinetic model. The rate-determining step is an electron-transfer process from adsorbed hydrogen to 4-nitrophenolate on the AgNPs surface, with 4-AP being the sole product.