Catalytic hydrogenation of condensation product of furfural with cyclopentanone using molecular hydrogen and formic acid as hydrogen donor

• Hydrogenation of condensation product of furfural with cyclopentanone was studied.
• Catalytic and transfer hydrogenation of condensation product was compared.
• As a source of hydrogen formic acid was used.
• Palladium catalysts are very active and selective at mild operating conditions.
• Dramatic activity loss in transfer hydrogenation using formic acid is observed.

In this study we report the catalytic hydrogenation of biomass-derived condensation product of furfural and cyclopentanone (F2C) with molecular hydrogen and formic acid as a source of hydrogen. Supported palladium catalysts have been used for hydrogenation and decomposition of formic acid. Complete conversion of F2C and higher than 90% yield of C15 bis-cyclic ether were achieved over 5% Pd/C catalyst at mild reaction conditions and short reaction time by catalytic hydrogenation with molecular hydrogen. Despite high activity of palladium catalysts in F2C hydrogenation with molecular hydrogen and also decomposition of formic acid to hydrogen these catalysts exhibited significantly lower activity in transfer hydrogenation. A dramatic activity loss in transfer hydrogenation may be caused by a strong adsorption of formic acid on Pd sites which hinders the competitive adsorption of F2C molecules solvated with formic acid.

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