Metal–support cooperation in Al(PO3)3-supported platinum nanoparticles for the selective hydrogenolysis of phenols to arenes

The hydrogenolysis of phenols to yield arenes is of importance to the production of fine chemicals, as well as biorefinery application; however, the conversion of phenols through cleavage of their strong C(sp2)–OH bonds remains a highly challenging task in synthetic chemistry. Here we report the use of Al(PO3)3-supported platinum nanoparticles for the selective hydrogenolysis of a broad range of phenols (including sterically highly demanding phenols and lignin model compounds) to afford arenes under relatively low temperatures (<150 °C) and ambient pressure (Ar/H2 = 9/1, 1 atm). This heterogeneous catalyst is expected to find a broad application in fine chemical synthesis and biorefinery.