Oxidation of tetrahydrofuran with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of host (zeolite Y)/guest (1,9-dialkyl-1,3,7,9,11,15-hexaazacyclohexadecane copper(II) complexes, [Cu(R2[16]aneN6)]2+) nanocomposite materials

Selective Oxidation of Tetrahydrofuran to Gamma-Butyrolactone over Spinel ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticle Catalyst

The selective oxidation of tetrahydrofuran (THF) to gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) on spinel ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles (ZFNPs) was investigated. The catalyst was prepared with the coprecipitation method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDS, TGA, XPS, and BET surface area. The characterization techniques showed that a nonuniform spherical spinal oxide with an average particle size of 26 nm was formed. The oxidation reaction was carried out using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent under solvent-free conditions. GC-MS analysis revealed that the main product was GBL. 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran (THF-2-OH), gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHBA), and gamma-hydroxybutaldehyde (GHBAl) were obtained as minor products. The effects of different reaction parameters, such as temperature, H2O2/THF mole ratio, catalyst dose, reaction time, and reusability, were evaluated. A 47.3% conversion of THF with an 88.2% selectivity of GBL was achieved by conducting the reaction at 80 °C for nine hours using a 1:1 mole ratio of H2O2/THF. A slight increase in the conversion degree was attained at higher temperatures; however, an over-oxidation process was observed as the temperature exceeded 80 °C. The catalyst remained effective and stable over four reuses.

Selective aerobic oxidation of cyclic ethers to lactones over Au/CeO2 without any additives

Selective oxidation of ethers to lactones with O₂ as a benign oxidant using Au/CeO₂ as the catalyst has been developed. The oxygen vacancies and Au⁰ species on the surface of CeO₂ contribute to the activation of O₂. The excellent selectivity of lactones is due to the adsorption of ethers and activation of the C(sp³)-H bond on Au/CeO₂.

Selective hydrodeoxygenation of 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone to γ-butyrolactone over Pt/mesoporous solid acid bifunctional catalyst

A sustainable strategy for γ-butyrolactone production from furfural was developed, which involves photocatalytic oxidation and subsequent hydrodeoxygenation over Pt/Nb₅Zr₅-550 bifunctional catalysts.