Hydrogenolysis of Furfural into 1,5-Pentanediol by Employing Ni-M (M = Y or La) Composite Catalysts

Ni-M (M = Y or La)-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of furfural (FFR) to produce 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD) has been developed through the formation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) as an intermediate product. Ni(0)-Y2O3 or Ni(0)-La(OH)3 composite catalysts executed cleavage of the C–O bond of THFA, giving 1,5-PeD with remarkably high selectivity. Consecutive reactions including hydrogenation of the C=O and C=C bonds and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the C–O bond were performed. Ni-M (M = Y or La)-catalyzed hydrogenolysis of furfural (FFR) to produce 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD) has been developed through the formation of tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol (THFA) as an intermediate product. Coupled Ni-Y2O3 or Ni-La(OH)3 executing the cleavage of the C–O bond of THFA led to 1,5-PeD formation with remarkably high selectivity. The present protocol assumes consecutive reactions including hydrogenation of C=O and C=C bonds and subsequent hydrogenolysis of the C–O bond.