1,2-Hexanediol
(1,2-HDO) has essential applications in manufacturing
cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, but its selective production from 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
(HMF) over non-noble metal catalysts is challenging, due to the multiple
parallel reaction routes for the conversion of HMF. In this study,
Cu-based nanocatalysts with Cu nanoparticles derived from Mg–Al
layered double hydroxides were reported to catalyze the conversion
of HMF to 1,2-HDO. The results showed that the introduction of Mg
species into the CuAl catalyst facilitated the formation of Cu nanoparticles
with a smaller size, mesoporous structures, abundant basic sites,
and also more surface area of metallic Cu sites. CuMgAl catalysts
exhibited superior catalytic behavior and reusability for the conversion
of HMF to 1,2-HDO with 5-methyl furfuryl alcohol (5-MFA) as the reaction
intermediate by suppressing the sintering of Cu. The ring opening
of 5-MFA controlled the formation rate of 1,2-HDO. The abundant basic
sites with medium strength in CuMgAl facilitated the adsorption and
subsequent ring opening of 5-MFA over metallic Cu sites to form 1,2-HDO.
The critical side reaction from HMF to 1,2-HDO was the polymerization
of HMF and reaction intermediates, which could be suppressed via an
alcohol reaction medium like isopropanol.