Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural to 2-Methylfuran over a Cu-BTC-Derived Catalyst with Isopropanol as a Hydrogen Donor
Debarun Banerjee, Sushant Yadav, Aloka Kumar Sahu, Jack K. Clegg, Sreedevi Upadhyayula
Abstract
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation of furfural is an environmentally friendly approach for the production of biofuels such as 2-methylfuran (2-MF). The presence of both metallic and Lewis acid sites in the catalyst is required to produce 2-MF by this process. However, the inherent unstable nature of these catalytic sites poses a significant challenge to controlling their stoichiometry. Herein, we report the preparation of a highly active and robust catalyst through the pyrolysis of a Cu-BTC metal–organic framework under controlled conditions. This catalyst exhibits outstanding performance in furfural transfer hydrogenation using isopropyl alcohol as the hydrogen donor. Under optimized conditions of 250 °C and 5 bar, we achieved 100% furfural conversion with a 77% selectivity toward 2-MF after 6 h reaction time by using Cu-BTC pyrolyzed at 310 °C as a catalyst. The observed superior activity could be attributed to the presence of both Cu(I) and Cu(0) sites in the catalyst, in combination with high acidic site concentrations. This work introduces a facile method for establishing a stable coexistence of metallic and acid sites in Cu-based catalysts, showcasing its potential for advancing sustainable biofuel production. Notably, this strategic catalyst design opens avenues for broader applications in sustainable catalysis.