Hydrogen spillover accelerates catalytic hydrolysis ring opening of furans to polyols and alkanes

Low-temperature specific ring opening of furans to polyols and alkanes could be crucial for synthesizing bioderived polyols and high-performance fuel. Here, we report a new route for controllable semi-hydrogenation of furans to dihydrofurans and hydrolysis ring opening to polyols using surface-oxidized, metal phosphide (CoP-O)-supported, noble-metal nanoparticle catalysts at 150°C. The formed polyols can be widely used as building blocks for polyester, polyurethane, and polyether manufacturing. In addition, alkanes can be generated in high yield through a one-pot reaction by integrating the ring-opening and subsequent dehydration processes after introducing acidic zeolite. The controlled semi-hydrogenation hydrolysis route can be ascribed to a concerted but controlled hydrogenation-acid catalysis via hydrogen spillover from Pt nanoparticles to the CoP-O surface. This system shows its specific ring-opening strategy for various furans, which offers selective synthesis of polyols and alkanes.