Dechlorination of 1,4-dichlorobenzene on unsupported nickel phosphides synthesized in situ: effect of Ni/P ratio on the catalyst activity

The synthesis of nickel phosphides was conducted in situ during the hydrodechlorination reaction of 1,4-dichlorobenzene using either red phosphorus or triphenylphosphine as a starting reactant to produce the phosphides. At Ni/P ratio of 1 : 0.5, the most active nickel phosphide phase, Ni₂P, was observed. An increase in phosphorus loading resulted in reducing the degree of dechlorination.