Immobilized Ru Clusters in Nanosized Mesoporous Zirconium Silica for the Aqueous Hydrogenation of Furan Derivatives at Room Temperature

Ru lonesome tonight? Immobilized ruthenium clusters (50 Ru atoms) in nanosized mesoporous zirconium silica were synthesized by using an impregnation method starting from an aqueous solution of RuCl3. The Ru cluster catalysts were thermally stable at 500 °C and showed remarkable activity for the hydrogenation of furan derivatives in water at room temperature under 5 bar hydrogen pressure.