Abstract: The preparation of phenylalanine from phenylpyruvic acid by amination and hydrogenation was investigated over amorphous Ni-B alloy catalysts prepared by chemical reduction. The amorphous Ni-B alloy showed better activity and selectivity than the commercial Raney Ni and Urushibara Ni catalysts. After the Ni-B alloy was supported on SiO2, the activity and selectivity of Ni-B/SiO2 were further improved to 97.67%. The higher activity and selectivity of the amorphous alloy catalysts were mainly ascribed to the electron-rich Ni due to electron donation from B and the larger specific surface area of the amorphous alloys.

Key words: nickel, boron, amorphous alloy, phenylalanine, phenylpyruvic acid, hydrogenation