Supported noble-metal catalysts (Ru, Pd or Pt) and the corresponding Re-promoted catalysts exhibit a high activity for the hydrogenation of biobased carboxylic acids. Levulinic acid and succinic acid are converted into the lactones or the diols depending on the nature of the catalyst and the reaction conditions. The highest selectivity to 1,4-pentanediol of 82 % is achieved at 140 °C in the presence of the 1.9 % Ru-3.6 % Re/C catalyst.

This paperisd edicated to Dr.D anielDuprez and Dr.Pierre Gallezotw ith whom we have sharedm any discussions about supported (bi)metallic catalysts.Supporting information for this articleisa vailable on the WWW under http://dx.