Yoshinao Nakagawa

Furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are important platform chemicals in biorefinery. Reduction of furfural or HMF with H2 over heterogeneous catalysts is the simplest way to convert the oxygen-rich compounds. However, the process can involve many types of reactions such as hydrogenation of the C═O bond, hydrogenation of the furan ring, C–O hydrogenolysis, rearrangement, C–C dissociation, and polymerization. Hydrogenation reactions are most studied in line with hydrogenations of other α,β-

Glycerol has become an important feedstock for chemicals. Selective hydrogenolysis of glycerol has been attempted using several types of catalysts: non-noble-metal catalysts, noble-metal catalysts with an acid as an additive, noble-metal catalysts combined with a base, and metal-oxide-modified noble-metal catalysts. The former three approaches give 1,2-propanediol as a main product, while the mechanisms may be different. Only the last one can selectively give the more valuable 1,3-propanediol.

Hydrogenation of aqueous furfural was conducted with SiO2-suported palladium-based bimetallic catalysts. The combination of palladium and iridium gave the best performance for the total hydrogenation to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol. Higher H2 pressure and lower reaction temperature were advantageous to suppress side reactions. The synergy between Pd and Ir in the hydrogenation catalysis is most remarkable for substituted furans as substrates. Furfural was first converted into furfuryl alcohol, whi

Abstract Gas‐phase hydrogenation of furfural to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is catalyzed by Ni/SiO 2 with <4 nm Ni particle size, which is prepared by the reduction of supported nickel nitrate. The maximum yield is 94 %. The conversion of furfural to the furfuryl alcohol intermediate is less structure‐sensitive. The subsequent step in which furfuryl alcohol is converted to tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol is inhibited by the presence of furfural because furfural is more strongly adsorbed onto the ca

One-pot selective conversion of furfural into 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeD) was carried out over Pd-added Ir–ReOx/SiO2catalysts through two-step reaction temperatures. The Pd(0.66 wt%)–Ir–ReOx/SiO2catalyst showed the best performance in the production of 1,5-PeD from furfural. The maximum yield of 1,5-PeD was 71.4%. The furfural conversion and yield of 1,5-PeD was almost maintained during four repeated tests when the catalyst was calcined again. The characterization results from TPR, XRD, XANES, EXA

The bis(μ-hydroxo)-bridged dioxovanadium site in [γ-1,2-H2SiV2W10O40]4− catalyzes the epoxidation of alkenes in the presence of only one equivalent of H2O2 with a high yield of epoxide, high efficiency of H2O2 utilization, unusual regioselectivity, and unprecedented diastereoselectivity (see picture).

DMC run: Carbon dioxide can be converted into dimethyl carbonate in a reaction system involving 2-cyanopyridine as a dehydration agent, catalyzed by CeO2. Regeneration of the coproduct 2-picolinamide can be achieved over a Na2O/SiO2 catalyst. As a whole, the system servest to react carbon dioxide with methanol to produce dimethyl carbonate.

Methoxyphenols can be converted to cyclohexanol and methanol with H₂ over Ru/C combined with MgO.

The combinations of Pt–W and Ir–Re can catalyze the hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,3-propanediol in high selectivity.

Rh–Ir–ReO_x/SiO₂ catalyst with ReO_x-modified Ir–Rh alloy particles can convert furfural to 1,5-PeD in high yield.