title: Copper-zinc alloy nanopowder: a robust precious-metal-free catalyst for the conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.
abstract: Noble-metal-free copper-zinc nanoalloy (<150 nm) is found to be uniquely suited for the highly selective catalytic conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to potential biofuels or chemical building blocks. Clean mixtures of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) and 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) with combined product yields up to 97 % were obtained at 200-220 °C using 20-30 bar H2 . It is also possible to convert 10 wt % HMF solutions in CPME, with an excellent DMF yield of 90 %. Milder temperatures favor selective (95 %) formation of 2,5-furandimethanol (FDM). The one-pot conversion of fructose to valuable furan-ethers was also explored. Recycling experiments for DMF production show remarkable catalyst stability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization provides more insight into morphological changes of this intriguing class of materials during catalysis.
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen (The Netherlands).
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottari
authors.forename: Angela J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kumalaputri
authors.forename: Krzysztof K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Krawczyk
authors.forename: Ben L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Feringa
authors.forename: Hero J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heeres
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barta
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D005662:Furaldehyde / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D005663:Furans / Q000737:chemistry; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011208:Powders; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D005663:Furans; D011208:Powders; C008046:5-hydroxymethylfurfural; D003300:Copper; D005662:Furaldehyde; C037555:2,5-dimethylfuran; D015032:Zinc; D000432:Methanol
keywords: 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural; biomass; copper; hydrogenolysis; zinc