Ni-Mo/ZrO 2 catalysts with Ni-Mo loadings of 10 wt % were prepared by a sol-gel method on a ZrO 2 support and subsequently applied in the simple reductive amination of heterocyclic aldehydes. Among the various catalysts prepared, Ni-Mo/ZrO 2 catalysts with Ni:Mo = 2:1 exhibited the highest metal dispersion and the smallest Ni particle size. The results showed that the catalyst has good catalytic performance, in which the yield of furfurylamine can reach 96.6 %. Initially, oximes were synthesized from the corresponding aldehydes and hydroxylamine hydrochloride, and then heterocyclic primary amines were synthesized by simple hydroreductive amination of the oximes with a 12 % methanolic solution of NH 3 in the presence of an Ni-Mo/ZrO 2 catalyst. The methanolic solution of NH 3 was found to be more effective in inhibiting the formation of secondary and tertiary amines.

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