Unraveling the Synergistic Participation of Ni–Sn in Nanostructured NiO/SnO2 for the Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenolysis of Benzyl Phenyl Ether

Selective transfer hydrogenolysis of lignin-derivedaromatic ethers by the utilization of hydrogen donor solventwithout hydrogenation of aromatic rings is a crucial strategy for theselective production of mono-aromatics. The use of non-noblemetal-based catalysts toward transfer hydrogenolysis of anaromatic ether bond with high activity and selectivity is still tobe achieved. Herein, we report the synthesis of a non-noble metal-based nanostructured NiO(x%)/SnO2catalyst for the catalytictransfer hydrogenolysis of benzyl phenyl ether and its homologuesether. The developed catalyst afforded >95% reactant conversionand 100% selectivity toward the aromatic compounds using 2-propanol as a hydrogen source at 250 degrees C and 4 h in the N2atmosphere. The catalyst was thoroughly characterized by severalphysicochemical analytical techniques. The oxygen vacancy was analyzed by Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies & XPS analysis, andacidity was analyzed by the temperature-programmed desorption and pyridine-adsorbed FT-IR spectroscopy. The synergisticparticipation of NiO and SnO2nanoparticles in NiO/SnO2, reducing ability, and interface formation were confirmed usingtemperature-programmed reduction, several physicochemical characterization techniques, and control reactions. Based on thecatalytic activity data, it is concluded that the appropriate NiO loading (10 wt %) was the dominant factor for controlling thearomatic selectivity. The catalyst was efficiently recycled after a simple calcination process with no substantial loss in the catalyticactivity. An in-depth study on the change in the catalyst chemical composition and their regeneration using various characterizationtechniques was conducted. A simple, cost-effective non-noble catalyst and straightforward eco-friendly transfer-hydrogenolysiscatalytic process involving 2-propanol to produce aromatic platform chemicals would attract significant attention from catalysisresearchers and industrialists.