Title
Toward hydrogen economy: Selective guaiacol hydrogenolysis under ambient hydrogen pressure
Publication Date
8-5-2020
Department
Ames Laboratory; Chemistry
Campus Units
Ames Laboratory, Chemistry
OSTI ID+
1609159
Report Number
IS-J 10175
DOI
10.1016/j.apcatb.2020.118890
Journal Title
Applied Catalysis B: Environmental
Volume Number
270
First Page
118890
Abstract
The conversion of guaiacol into the nylon precursors, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, is catalyzed by palladium supported on high surface area ceria (Pd/HS CeO2) under mild conditions (100 °C, ≤1 bar H2) via sequential hydrodemethoxylation and hydrogenation. In contrast, the 2-methoxycyclohexanol side product is generated by direct guaiacol hydrogenation. Reaction selectivity is determined by competing CO bond hydrogenolysis versus arene hydrogenation. Hydrogenolysis selectivity increases as H2 pressure decreases, and over 80 % H2 is incorporated into the products at 1 bar H2. Higher reactivity of guaiacol than anisole implies that the hydroxyl group is essential in Pd/HS CeO2 catalysis. Participation of water in the conversion is evidenced by deuterium incorporation at non-exchangeable positions when the reaction is performed in D2O. The combination of near quantitative mass balance of H2, high recyclability, and use of water as a solvent offers a simple, green and efficient conversion of lignin-derived aromatics into commercial products.
DOE Contract Number(s)
AC02-07CH11358
Language
en
Publisher
Iowa State University Digital Repository, Ames IA (United States)