In situ self-derived Co/CoOx active sites from Co-TCPP for the efficient hydrogenolysis of furfuryl alcohol to 1,5-pentanediol

Revealing the mechanism for effective furan ring-opening process on transitional metal catalyst is critical for realizing the production of 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PeO) through furfural alcohol (FOL). Herein, a Co-CoOx metal-metal oxide catalyst derived from 2D Co-MOF was synthesized, exhibiting high selectivity for 1,5-PeO (46%) and suppressing the selectivity of 1,2-PeO to 3.74% at 170 °C, 3 MPa H2 for 1.5 h. The coordination between Co2+ and ligand in MOF could form highly dispersed Co nanoparticles associated with CoOx containing oxygen vacancy, and the inherited flower-like 2D nanosheets exposed more accessible Co-CoOx active sites. Due to the proximity and synergistic effect between Co0 and oxygen vacancy in CoOx, the catalyst also realized the ring-opening of 2-methylfuran, and a mechanism based on dual O adsorption was proposed. This work demonstrates the decisive effect of oxygen vacancy during the formation of 1,5-PeO through FOL route, and deepen the understanding the mechanism of transition metal catalysts.