Selective C–O Bond Cleavage of Furfural for the Sustainable Synthesis of 1,2-Pentanediol Using CuCe Catalysts

As a pivotal monomer for polymeric materials, 1,2-pentanediol demonstrates a significant commercial viability. Herein, 30CuCe catalysts with abundant basic sites were prepared using a novel high-pressure hydrogen-assisted method at low temperature, which effectively facilitated the catalytic conversion of furfural to 1,2-pentanediol under mild conditions of 150 °C and 3 MPa H₂, achieving a notable yield of 53.6%. The developed method enabled the full reduction of copper oxide while effectively suppressing the decomposition of cerium hydroxide, thereby preserving abundant basic sites on the surface of the catalyst. Comprehensive characterization confirmed the crucial role of these basic sites in promoting the catalytic process. Adsorption analysis revealed a preferential planar orientation of the substrate on the catalyst surface, a configuration that significantly promoted the formation of 1,2-pentanediol as the dominant diol product. The regioselectivity of the hydrogenolysis process was attributed to the synergistic interaction between metallic active centers and basic sites within the catalytic system.