Facile synthesis of γ-valerolactone by transfer hydrogenation of methyl levulinate and levulinic acid over Ni/ZrO2

Nickel on zirconium oxide catalyst showed a high activity for the transfer hydrogenation of methyl levulinate and levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone (GVL) using 2-propanol as a hydrogen donor. The GVL yield of 94% at 373 K and 92% even at 363 K were attained for the hydrogenation of methyl levulinate. For the hydrogenation of levulinic acid, the GVL yield of 86% was attained at 393 K. The studies of the reactions on each component, i.e., nickel or ZrO2 showed that nickel in the Ni/ZrO2 catalyst largely contributed to the hydrogenation of the substrate and ZrO2 had a high activity for the lactonization of the hydrogenated product.