Influence of Support Properties and Particle Size on the Gold‐Catalyzed Base‐Free Aerobic Oxidation of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural

Highly Dispersive Gold Nanoclusters Confined within Micropores of Defective UiO-66 for Highly Efficient Aldehyde Oxidation at Mild Conditions

The oxidative esterification of aldehydes under mild conditions remains a significant challenge. This study introduces a unique defective UiO-66 to achieve gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) for efficient aldehyde oxidation under mild conditions. The construction and characterization of these materials are thoroughly investigated by techniques of XRD, SEM and TEM images, FT-IR, Raman, and XPS spectrum, emphasizing the unique microporous in defective UiO-66 are conducive to the fabrication of AuNCs. The catalytic performance of the prepared materials in aldehyde oxidation reactions is systematically evaluated, demonstrating the remarkable efficiency of dispersed Au@UiO-66-25 with high-content (9.09 wt%) Au-loading and ultra-small size (~2.7 nm). Moreover, mechanistic insights into the catalytic process under mild conditions (70 °C for 1 h) are provided, elucidating the determination of defective UiO-66 in the confined fabrication of AuNCs and subsequent furfural adsorption, which underlie the principles governing the observed enhancements. This study establishes the groundwork for the synthesis of highly dispersed and catalytically active metal nanoparticles using defective MOFs as a platform, advancing the catalytic esterification reaction of furfural to the next level.

Current Advances in the Sustainable Conversion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural into 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid

2,5-Furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is currently considered one of the most relevant bio-sourced building blocks, representing a fully sustainable competitor for terephthalic acid as well as the main component in green polymers such as poly(ethylene 2,5-furandicarboxylate) (PEF). The oxidation of biobased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) represents the most straightforward approach to obtain FDCA, thus attracting the attention of both academia and industries, as testified by Avantium with the creation of a new plant expected to produce 5000 tons per year. Several approaches allow the oxidation of HMF to FDCA. Metal-mediated homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis, metal-free catalysis, electrochemical approaches, light-mediated procedures, as well as biocatalytic processes share the target to achieve FDCA in high yield and mild conditions. This Review aims to give an up-to-date overview of the current developments in the main synthetic pathways to obtain FDCA from HMF, with a specific focus on process sustainability.

Efficient imine synthesis via oxidative coupling of alcohols with amines in an air atmosphere using a mesoporous manganese–zirconium solid solution catalyst

Mesoporous Mn₁Zr_xO_y solid solution enables efficient imine formation from catalytic oxidative coupling of alcohols and amines at low temperature in an air atmosphere without base additives.

Selective oxidation of bio-based platform molecules and their conversion products over metal nanoparticle catalysts: a review

The conversion of bio-renewable raw materials into valuable products (biofuels, bifunctional carbonyls/carboxyls) that serve as the basis for biopolymers, has become one of the most important areas in the development of novel hybrid catalysts.

A magnetic CoRu-CoOX nanocomposite efficiently hydrogenates furfural to furfuryl alcohol at ambient H2 pressure in water

A one-pot synthesized CoRu-CoOX nanocomposite was reported as a magnetically recoverable catalyst for selective hydrogenation of furfural to furfuryl alcohol in water at ambient H2 pressure.