Supported Pd–Au bimetallic nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst for the hydrodeoxygenation of vanillin with formic acid at room temperature

Hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) for upgrading biomass usually requires high temperature and high H2 pressure. Herein, g-C3N4-supported Pd–Au bimetallic nanoparticles are reported as an efficient catalyst for the HDO of vanillin, a typical biomass-derived compound, and some other aromatic aldehydes. With the catalyst and formic acid as the hydrogen donor, the reaction occurs at room temperature and under atmospheric air, and a satisfactory yield of the desired product was achieved within 1 h. A two-phase solvent of H2O and EA was used, and the catalyst could be reused at least 5 times. The superior performance of PdAu/g-C3N4 compared to monometallic catalysts could be mainly ascribed to the synergistic catalysis inside the catalyst, which was explored via characterization analysis.