Mechanistic study on –C–O– and –C–C– hydrogenolysis over Cu catalysts: identification of reaction pathways and key intermediates

Sugar alcohols are found to adsorb over Cu catalystsviatwo vicinal OH-groups, forming a chelate complex with selective –C–O– bond cleavage of adjacent free OH-groups. Different side reactionsviaunsaturated intermediates on the catalyst surface yield C1 to C5 polyols.