Unlocking the Potential of NiSO4·6H2O/NaOCl/NaOH Catalytic System: Insights into Nickel Peroxide as an Intermediate for Benzonitrile Synthesis in Water

Nickel peroxide nanoparticles (NPNPs) were prepared and characterized using various techniques including transmission electron microscope (TEM), scan electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and FTIR spectra. The aqueous basic catalytic system NiSO4·6H2O/NaOCl/NaOH (pH = 14) was investigated for the catalytic dehydrogenation of benzylamine and parasubstituents to their corresponding nitriles at room temperature. The obtained results confirmed the formation of NiO2 nanocrystalline particles with a size of 20 nm. Benzylamine with electron-donating groups showed higher yields of nitriles compared to electron-withdrawing groups. The mechanism involved in the in situ generated NiO2 nanoparticles dehydrogenating benzylamine to benzonitrile, with the produced NiO converting back to NiO2 nanoparticles through the excess of NaOCl.