A high-activity composite catalyst via sol-gel-assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis for catalytic transfer hydrogenation

Abstract

Developing an efficient, energy-saving, and rapid synthesis method for composites is crucial for advancing functional catalytic materials, yet still challenging. Herein, we present a sol-gel-assisted self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) strategy that integrates sol-gel formation, self-combustion, and self-propagating high-temperature synthesis into a one pot process, enabling efficient and rapid synthesis of metal oxide-based composites. As a demonstration, we synthesized easily separable magnetic Fe₃O₄/C composites and conducted a catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) reaction of furfural (FAL), a representative biomass-derived carbonyls, achieving superior activity at mild conditions. The high specific surface area and abundant acid-base sites endow the substrate and catalyst with strong interactions and bonding, thereby promoting the hydrogen transfer process. The direct hydrogen transfer pathway of the CTH reaction was confirmed using isotope labeling, alongside the elucidation of the side reaction. These findings offer new insights for the synthesis of metal oxide-based composites and broaden the applicability of the sol-gel-assisted SHS strategy in material synthesis.