Organodiphosphonate Zr‐MOF: A highly efficient catalyst for Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction of furfural

Abstract

Tetraethyl p‐xylenediphosphate is used as the organic ligand to prepare the organodiphosphonate Zr‐based metal organic frameworks (ZrP‐MOF). The physicochemical characterizations of ZrP‐MOF under different hydrothermal and calcination conditions were performed by various analytical techniques. ZrP‐MOF was then employed as a catalyst for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural with alcohol as the hydrogen donor, and the preparation parameters and catalytic properties of ZrP‐MOF were investigated. Compared with fresh ZrP‐MOF, the furfural conversion of ZrP‐MOF calcined at 825 K increased from 43.5% to 95.1%. Calcination can significantly increase the Lewis/Brønsted acid ratio and enlarge the pore structure of ZrP‐MOF, which promote the furfural catalytic transfer hydrogenation reaction over Zr‐O based on the Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction.