Efficient one-pot valorization of ethanol to 1-butanol over an earth-abundant Ni–MgO catalyst under mild conditions

Abstract

In this work, a very high 1-butanol yield of 23.7% was obtained in a batch reactor using an inexpensive and stable Ni–MgO catalyst under mild conditions (250 °C, 5 h, 2.5 MPa helium). Uniformly distributed Ni species provide strong dehydrogenation and hydrogenation functionalities, whereas the Ni–MgO provides an optimal acidic–basic site for aldol condensation of acetaldehyde. Meanwhile, the typical Guerbet pathway was improved further and the side reactions were restrained over the Ni–MgO catalysts based on our mechanistic studies.