Highly efficient catalytic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid using bimetallic Pt–Cu alloy nanoparticles as catalysts

Bimetallic Pt–Cu alloy nanoparticles were used as highly active and selective catalysts for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) under base-free conditions.

Crystal-phase engineering of PdCu nanoalloys facilitates selective hydrodeoxygenation at room temperature

Solid surface frustrated Lewis pair constructed on layered AlOOH for hydrogenation reaction

AbstractDesigning heterogeneous solid surface frustrated Lewis pair (ssFLP) catalyst for hydrogenation is a new challenge in catalysis and no research has been reported on the construction of ssFLP on boehmite (AlOOH) surfaces up to now as far as we know. Herein, AlOOH with a layer structure is prepared and it is found that the Lewis basic OHv site (one H removed from OH) and an adjacent Lewis acidic unsaturated Al site (Al3+unsatur.) proximal to a surface OHv (OH vacancy) on AlOOH layers could form the ssFLP. The layered structure of AlOOH and its abundant OH defects over the surface result in a high concentration of OHv/Al3+unsatur. FLPs, which are conducive to highly efficient hydrogen activation for hydrogenation of olefins and alkynes with low H-H bond dissociates activation energy of 0.16 eV under mild conditions (T = 80°C and P(H2) = 2.0 MPa). This work develops a new kind of hydrogenation catalyst and provides a new perspective for creating solid surface FLP.

Halogen-free fixation of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates via bifunctional organocatalysts

Bifunctional organocatalysts bearing diamine and carboxylic acid groups efficiently catalyze the coupling reaction of CO2 with epoxides under halogen-free conditions due to a synergy effect.

Selective hydrogenation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural to 5-methylfurfural over single atomic metals anchored on Nb2O5

Abstract5-Methylfurfural (MF) is a very useful chemical. Selective hydrogenation of biomass platform molecule 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) to MF using H2 as the reducing agent is very attractive, but challenging because hydrogenation of C=O bond in HMF is more favourable than C–OH both kinetically and thermodynamically, and this route has not been realized. In this work, we prepare isolated single atomic catalysts (SACs) Pt1/Nb2O5-Ov, Pd1/Nb2O5-Ov, and Au1/Nb2O5-Ov, in which single metal atoms are supported on oxygen defective Nb2O5 (Nb2O5-Ov). It is discovered that the SACs can efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of HMF to MF using H2 as the reducing agent with MF selectivity of >99% at complete conversion, while the selectivities of the metal nanocatalysts supported on Nb2O5 are very poor. A combination of experimental and density function theory (DFT) studies show that the unique features of the SACs for the reaction result from the cooperation of the Nb and Pt sites near the interface in the Pt1/Nb2O5-Ov. The Pt atoms are responsible for the activation of H2 and the Nb sites activate C-OH in the reaction. This work opens the way for producing MF by direct hydrogenation of biomass-derived HMF using H2 as the reductant.

Copper/Carbon Heterogenous Interfaces for Enhanced Selective Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO ₂ to Formate

Organic amine mediated cleavage of C_aromatic–C_α bonds in lignin and its platform molecules

Pre-functionalization with amine sources mediated the cleavage of Caromatic–Cα bonds to produce two valuable chemicals with high yields, for the full utilization of the aromatic rings and side-chains in lignin and its platform molecules.

Selective Utilization of N-acetyl Groups in Chitin for Transamidation of Amines

The selective transformation of chitin into various renewable N-containing chemicals and medicines has attracted increasing attention. However, the N-acetyl groups in chitin construct strong hydrogen bond networks, which restricts its depolymerization and transformation. The selective conversion of robust chitin commonly requires considerable base catalysts to remove the N-acetyl group as a byproduct in advance, which is non-compliance with the principle of atomic economy. Herein, for the first time we demonstrate a novel approach to achieve the selective utilization of the N-acetyl group in chitin for transamidation of chitin with amines. A series of amine derivatives, mainly including aliphatic amine, cyclic amine and functionalized aromatic amine, could be selectively converted into the corresponding amide products frequently found in pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, the solid residue after removing the acetyl group (denoted as De-chitin) with the sufficient exposure of -NH2 groups as a solid base catalyst shows excellent performance in the aldol condensation reaction of furfural and acetone to produce fuel precursors. Our process provides a strategy that exploiting every functional group adequately in substrates to obtain value-added chemicals.

Production of Piperidine and δ‐Lactam Chemicals from Biomass‐Derived Triacetic Acid Lactone

Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide to Ethanol: An Approach to Transforming Greenhouse Gas to Fuel Source

Selective electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to ethanol via a relay catalytic platform

The relay catalytic platform is very efficient and selective for CO2 electroreduction to ethanol.

Selective catalytic transformation of lignin with guaiacol as the only liquid product

La(OTf)3 can catalyze the transformation of lignin efficiently with guaiacol as the only liquid product, and guaiacol produced can be isolated easily in a scaled up experiment.

Product‐oriented Direct Cleavage of Chemical Linkages in Lignin

Selective hydrogenation of aromatic furfurals into aliphatic tetrahydrofurfural derivatives

Efficient selective hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfural or 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 5-hydroxymethyltetrahydro-2-furaldehyde have been realized over Pd/LDH-MgAl-NO3, and the selectivities could reach 92.6% and 83.7%, respectively.

Selective aerobic oxidation of cyclic ethers to lactones over Au/CeO2 without any additives

Selective oxidation of ethers to lactones with O2 as a benign oxidant using Au/CeO2 as the catalyst has been developed.

A fully heterogeneous catalyst Br-LDH for the cycloaddition reactions of CO2 with epoxides

An easily prepared fully heterogeneous catalyst Br-LDH for the cycloaddition reactions of epoxides with CO2.

Aerobic selective oxidation of methylaromatics to benzoic acids over Co@N/Co-CNTs with high loading CoN4 species

A high density of CoN4 species embedded in N-doped CNTs achieved outstanding performance for selective aerobic oxidation of methylaromatics to benzoic acids.

Selective utilization of methoxy groups in lignin for N-methylation reaction of anilines

Methoxy groups in lignin were selectively valorised as a methyl source for the N-methylation reaction of amines.

Selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes over Pt nanoparticles promoted by the cooperation of steric and electronic effects

The selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to unsaturated alcohols can reach high selectivity and activity at room temperature using Pt nanoparticles immobilized on a non-porous Al2O3 support stabilized by aspartic acid.

Methanol Promoted Palladium‐Catalyzed Amine Formylation with CO 2 and H 2 by the Formation of HCOOCH 3

A route to support Pt sub-nanoparticles on TiO2 and catalytic hydrogenation of quinoline to 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline at room temperature

We report a method to support Pt sub-nanoparticles on TiO2.

A new route to synthesize aryl acetates from carbonylation of aryl methyl ethers

Aryl acetates were synthesized efficiently for the first time by the carbonylation of aryl methyl ethers.

Selective hydration of asymmetric internal aryl alkynes without directing groups to α-aryl ketones over Cu-based catalyst

The catalyst enlarges the uniqueness of the electron population on the two triple-bond carbon atoms, resulting in highly regioselective hydration.

Selective Phenol Hydrogenation to Cyclohexanone Over a Dual Supported Pd–Lewis Acid Catalyst

Cyclohexanone is an industrially important intermediate in the synthesis of materials such as nylon, but preparing it efficiently through direct hydrogenation of phenol is hindered by over-reduction to cyclohexanol. Here we report that a previously unappreciated combination of two common commercial catalysts―nanoparticulate palladium (supported on carbon, alumina, or NaY zeolite) and a Lewis acid such as AlCl3―synergistically promotes this reaction. Conversion exceeding 99.9% was achieved with >99.9% selectivity within 7 hours at 1.0-megapascal hydrogen pressure and 50°C. The reaction was accelerated at higher temperature or in a compressed CO2 solvent medium. Preliminary kinetic and spectroscopic studies suggest that the Lewis acid sequentially enhances the hydrogenation of phenol to cyclohexanone and then inhibits further hydrogenation of the ketone.