Issue 9, 2020

Structure–selectivity relationships for polyol hydrogenolysis over Ru catalysts

Abstract

The conversion of C6 sugar alcohols (hexitols) and other polyols over Ru catalysts was investigated regarding structure–activity and structure–selectivity relationships by testing various structurally different polyol reactants. In line with earlier studies, we find that hydrogenolysis reactions over supported Ru lead to CH4 at 160 to 220 °C and 150 bar H2. The main reaction is metal-catalyzed and preferably cleaves terminal –C–C– bonds, following a decarbonylation mechanism. While the preferential degradation pathway causes CO formation, no CO has been observed experimentally. Only CO2 and CH4 were found which suggests that CO is rapidly hydrogenated to CH4 and/or converted to CO2 by the water gas shift reaction (WGS).As a side reaction, the cleavage of terminal OH-groups (–C–O– hydrogenolysis) has been identified. Consecutive –C–O– cleavage reactions lead to reaction products that have thus far not been identified (e.g. 2,3,4,5-hexanetetrol or 2,3-butanediol). While terminal –C–OH groups are readily converted due to fast decarbonylation, intermediates without terminal OH groups are converted via a ketone intermediate which is a rather slow reaction.

Graphical abstract: Structure–selectivity relationships for polyol hydrogenolysis over Ru catalysts

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Apr 2020
Accepted
07 Jul 2020
First published
07 Jul 2020

React. Chem. Eng., 2020,5, 1671-1681

Structure–selectivity relationships for polyol hydrogenolysis over Ru catalysts

B. Kühne, S. Glasder, H. Vogel, C. Kröner, A. Haji-Begli, M. Kunz and S. Kunz, React. Chem. Eng., 2020, 5, 1671 DOI: 10.1039/D0RE00170H

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements