The Co-amination of Phenol and Cyclohexanol with Palladium-on-carbon Catalyst in the Liquid Phase. An Application of a Hydrogen-transfer Reaction

Abstract Phenol and Cyclohexanol are simultaneously aminated to aniline and cyclohexylamine by ammonolysis with the palladium-on-carbon catalyst in the liquid phase, although the amination of either phenol or cyclohexanol hardly occurs without the other. In contrast, carbon-supported ruthenium, rhodium, and platinum catalysts are ineffective for this co-amination; they are active only for the amination of cyclohexanol to cyclohexylamine. These results are explained by the specific activity of palladium for hydrogen transfer between phenol and cyclohexanol.