LAUSR

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) with alcohols has been increasingly employed as effective tool for biomass upgrading, however, relying predominantly on secondary alcohols. Herein, we reported for the first time the skeletal CuZnAl catalysts for the activation of primary alcohol, ethanol, for the hydrogenation HMF to BHMF under a mild condition. The catalysts were extensively characterized to reveal the structure characteristics and surface compositions. Over 90% yields of BHMF were obtained over the optimal CuZnAl-0.5 catalyst at the reaction temperatures of 100-120 o C. Reaction kinetics indicated a competitive adsorption between HMF and ethanol on the catalyst surface, with the activation of ethanol being the rate-determining step (apparent activation energy, E a = 70.9 KJ/mol). Preliminary adsorption investigation using the combined ATR-IR spectroscopy and DFT calculation proposed a η 2 -(O, O)-aldehyde, furoxy perpendicular configuration of HMF on catalyst surface. The catalyst was further applied to the CTH of various aldehydes to the corresponding alcohols with high yields, demonstrating the board applicability of the current system.