Selectivity promotion of Cu by manganese oxide in hydrogenative ring opening of furfural to pentanediols

Abstract

This work reports a targeted activation of C–O–C of furfural alcohol (FA) to produce pentanediols (PeDs) over MnO₂-modified Cu. Infrared spectroscopy revealed the strong interaction of the furan ring and C–O–C of FA with the catalyst surface in a preferred flat adsorption configuration, thus facilitating the activation and cleavage of C–O–C to form PeDs.