One-step hydrogenolysis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 1,2,6-hexanetriol using a Pt@MIL-53-derived Pt@Al2O3 catalyst and NaBH4 in aqueous media

Herein hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) into 1,2,6-hexanetriol (1,2,6-HT) has been demonstrated using a MOF-derived Pt@Al2O3 catalyst and NaBH4 as the hydrogen source. The result showed a 63% 1,2,6-HT yield under relatively mild reaction conditions in aqueous media. The in situ method used for catalyst synthesis improved the homogeneous distribution of Pt species on the Al2O3 support. The reaction pathway for the hydrogenolysis of HMF-to-1,2,6-HT conversion exhibited the formation of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-furan (2,5-DHF) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (THFDM) intermediates. The kinetic study revealed that the activation energy of THFDM (78.7 kJ mol−1) is higher than that of 1,2,6-HT (64.7 kJ mol−1), indicating that lower reaction temperature favors the production of 1,2,6-HT.