LAUSR

It is highly desired but remains a great challenge to develop non-noble metal heterogeneous catalysts to supersede noble metal catalysts for formic acid (FA) dehydrogenation and the corresponding transfer hydrogenation reactions. Herein, we developed a simple and feasible melamine-assistant pyrolysis strategy for the preparation of atomic cobalt-nitrogen (Co-N)-anchored mesoporous carbon with high metal loading (> 6.8 wt%) and high specific surface area (750 m2/g). Systematic investigation reveals that both the organic carbon source of polypyrrole and nitrogen source of melamine are crucial for the successful generation of such Co-N-based materials. The obtained samples (Co-N)n@NC were demonstrated to be highly efficient and robust catalysts for FA dehydrogenation and formylation of quinolines through transfer hydrogenation, exhibiting a very high hydrogen production rate of 16451 mL·gCo-1·h-1 for FA dehydrogenation, and affording excellent yields (up to 99%), selectivity (up to 98%), and stability for transfer hydrogenation. This work may provide a promising route for the fabrication of more low-cost metal-nitrogen catalysts for green fine chemical synthesis.