LAUSR

Currently, developing simple and effective catalysts for selective hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols is challenging. Herein, an efficient CoOx‐shell/Co‐core structured nanoparticle catalyst is synthesized by a facile ultrasonic‐assisted carbothermal reduction method. The resultant catalyst exhibits outstanding catalytic performance toward the selective transfer hydrogenation of a wide spectrum of α,β‐unsaturated aldehydes into corresponding unsaturated alcohols with over 90 % selectivity. This is the simplest nonprecious metal catalyst to be reported for the selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes.