Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) reactions are efficient transformation routes to upgrade biobased chemicals. Herein, we report a facile and template-free route to synthesize a series of heterogeneous nitrogen-containing alkyltriphosphonate− metal hybrids with enhancive Lewis acid and base sites, and their catalytic activity in converting biomass-derived carbonyl compounds to corresponding alcohols in 2-propanol. Particularly, a quantitative yield of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) was obtained from furfural (FUR) over organotriphosphate−zirconium hybrid (ZrPN) under mild conditions. The presence of Lewis basic sites adjacent to acid sites with an appropriate base/acid site ratio (1:0.7) in ZrPN significantly improved the yield of FFA. Mechanistic studies for the transformation of FUR to FFA with ZrPN in 2-propanol-d 8 evidently indicate CTH reaction proceeding via a direct intermolecular hydrogen transfer route. It was also found that ZrPN could catalyze isomerization of C 3 −C 6 aldoses to ketoses involving intramolecular hydrogen transfer in water.
Nitrogen-containing compounds are pivotal building blocks with extensive application in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, polymer materials, agrochemicals and organic synthesis. The sustainable production of nitrogen-containing compounds from renewable biomass derivatives...
Commercial nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles are efficient, durable and magnetically recoverable heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of biomass-derived furfural as well as other aldehydes with 2-propanol as the H-donor forming furfuryl alcohol and various aromatic/allyl/alkenyl alcohols, respectively.
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