Researchers at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science have developed a nickel catalyst encapsulated in a nitrogen-doped carbon-silica composite (SiO₂@Ni@NC). This catalyst efficiently converts vanillin to 4-hydroxymethyl-2-methoxyphenol (HMP) in water at room temperature, achieving 99.8% conversion and 100% selectivity. The nitrogen-doped carbon layer enhances stability and catalytic performance, making the process effective and reusable up to five times. This method could advance the development of stable, efficient catalysts for aqueous-phase hydrogenation reactions.
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