Synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles by pyrolysis of vitamin B-12: a non-noble-metal catalyst for efficient hydrogenation of nitriles

A facile preparation of vitamin B-12-derived carbonaceous cobalt particles supported on ceria is reported. The resulting composite material is obtained upon wet impregnation of ceria with natural cyanocobalamin and consecutive pyrolysis under inert conditions. The novel catalyst shows good to excellent performance in the industrially relevant heterogeneous hydrogenation of nitriles to the corresponding primary amines.