Preparation of nickel-on-charcoal (Ni/C): An improved protocol

A modified preparation of the inexpensive, heterogeneous precatalyst Ni(II) /C, has been developed which (1) reduces the number of solvent distillation s; (2) generates no organic waste; (3) leads to complete impregnation of th e Ni(II) salts invested; and (4) extends the number of sources of charcoal which can be used to make the catalyst. Several carbon-carbon, as well as c arbon-nitrogen and carbon-hydrogen bond-forming reactions have been run whi ch compare Ni/C prepared via this new protocol with those formed using the original protocol. The results from each are virtually identical.