Single-atom catalysts with metal-acid synergistic effect toward hydrodeoxygenation tandem reactions

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of biomass platform compounds provides an effective route to obtain fine chemicals and fuels from renewable resources. Herein, we prepared a single-atom Pt catalyst anchored onto Co2AlO4 spinel support (0.4%Pt/Co2AlO4), resulting in extraordinary catalytic performance toward HDO of 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural to produce 2,5-dimethylfuran (yield: 99% and turnover frequency: 2,553 h−1). This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest level reported among heterogeneous catalysts. Both in situ experimental studies and density functional theory calculations verify that the single Pt atom facilitates the activation adsorption of the C=O bond and boosts the first C–OH bond cleavage (the rate-determining step), whereas the adjacent Brønsted acid site on support accelerates the second C–O bond dissociation. Moreover, the universality of catalyst is also demonstrated in HDO of other nine biomass platform compounds and five nitro compounds.