A porous inorganic zirconyl pyrophosphate as an efficient catalyst for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate to γ‐valerolactone. Issue 11 (21st June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Jianjia; Wang, Ruiying; Zi, Huimin; Wang, Haijun; Xia, Yongmei; Liu, Xiang
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Chinese Chemical Society. Volume 65:Issue 11(2018)
• Page Start: 1370
• Page End: 1378
• Publication Date: 2018-06-21
• Subjects: catalytic transfer hydrogenation -- ethyl levulinate -- isopropanol -- zirconyl pyrophosphate -- γ‐valerolactone; Chemistry -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1002/jccs.201800073
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-4536

Abstract

Abstract : Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ‐valerolactone (GVL) is an alluring reaction in the field of biomass catalytic conversion, but it normally depends on the consumption of H2 . In this study, we report a porous Zr‐containing inorganic pyrophosphate catalyst (ZrOPP), which was used as a catalyst for CTH of EL to GVL in the presence of isopropanol and characterized using FT‐IR, py‐FTIR, TGA, XRD, BET, XPS, ICP‐AES, SEM, TEM, NH3 ‐TPD, and CO2 ‐TPD. We achieved a high yield of 94% GVL at 433 K for 11 hr. Furthermore, the ZrOPP has the trait of easy separation and could be reused more than five times without distinct decrease in activity and selectivity. In addition, this catalyst could also be applied to other catalytic hydrogenation reactions, such as those of cyclohexanone, acetophenone, 2‐heptanone etc. Its outstanding performance was mainly ascribed to the acid sites from the Zr element and basic sites from phosphate groups interspersing on the surface of the catalyst. Abstract : A porous inorganic zirconyl pyrophosphate was prepared, exhibiting excellent catalytic activity for catalytic transfer hydrogenation of ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ‐valerolactone (GVL) in isopropanol. In addition, this catalyst also exhibits catalytic activity for other catalytic hydrogenation reactions, such as those of cyclohexanone, acetophenone, 2‐heptanone etc.