Hydroconversion of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Dimethylfuran and 2,5‐Dimethyltetrahydrofuran over Non‐promoted Ni/SBA‐15

Shuo Chen (1) , Carmen Ciotonea (1) , Karine de Oliveira Vigier (2) , François Jérôme (2) , Robert Wojcieszak (1) , Franck Dumeignil (1) , Eric Marceau (1) , Sébastien Royer (1)

1 UCCS - Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du Solide - UMR 8181
2 IC2MP [Poitiers] - Institut de chimie des milieux et matériaux de Poitiers [UMR 7285]

Selective hydroconversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is of great importance for future chemical and energy supply. Herein, we demonstrate that a monometallic Ni/SBA-15 catalyst, prepared by simple Incipient Wetness Impregnation (IWI) using nickel nitrate precursor, can selectively convert HMF to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) or to 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) under optimized reaction conditions. The mesopore confined Ni particles facilitate the hydrogenolysis and furan ring hydrogenation reactions. Through the control over reaction time, high yields to DMF (71%, at conversion of 93%) and to DMTHF (97%, at conversion of 100%) can be achieved. The kinetic study affords the determination of a preferential reaction route from HMF to DMTHF through 5-methylfurfural (MFFR) formation as intermediate. Favored route then involves the hydrogenolysis of the hydroxyl group as first step (MFFR production), followed by aldehyde function hydrogenation step to methylfurfuryl alcohol (MFOL).

Domaines: Chimie organique; Catalyse

Shuo Chen, Carmen Ciotonea, Karine de Oliveira Vigier, François Jérôme, Robert Wojcieszak, et al.. Hydroconversion of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Dimethylfuran and 2,5‐Dimethyltetrahydrofuran over Non‐promoted Ni/SBA‐15. ChemCatChem, 2020, 12 (7), pp.2050-2059. ⟨10.1002/cctc.201902028⟩. ⟨hal-02906610⟩