Skeletal Ni Catalyst Prepared from a Rapidly Quenched Ni–Al Alloy and Its High Selectivity in 2-Ethylanthraquinone Hydrogenation

A novel skeletal Ni catalyst, prepared by alkali leaching of a Ni–Al alloy obtained by the rapid quenching technique, exhibited higher selectivity in hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinone to “active quinones” than that of the Raney Ni catalyst originating from a conventional alloy. It is suggested that the structural defects of the rapidly quenched alloy lead to a high population of the strongly bound hydrogen, which is essential for selective hydrogenation of the carbonyl group.