Efficient Cross-Coupling of Acetone with Linear Aliphatic Alcohols over Supported Copper on a Fluorite-Type Pr<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>

oleh: Suhyun Lim, Minseok Kim, Sang Hyeok Ko, Jae-Hong Lee, Joon Hyun Baik, Young-Woong Suh

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-10-01

Deskripsi

In cross-coupling of biomass-derived acetone and alcohols contributing to the production of carbon-elongated chemicals and fuels, the essential catalyst components are metal dispersion for alcohol dehydrogenation and, more importantly, basicity for carbon–carbon coupling. Herein, we report the potential of co-precipitated praseodymia–zirconia solid solution (Pr<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>) as a support of Cu catalyst for the conversion of acetone and butanol into C<sub>7</sub> and C<sub>11</sub> products. Cu/Pr<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub> exhibits a high yield of C<sub>7</sub> and C<sub>11</sub> (ca. 84%) compared to Cu/ZrO<sub>2</sub> and Cu/PrO<sub>1.83</sub>. Moreover, it is robust under the employed solvent-free conditions owing to a solid solution of Pr<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub> compared to PrO<sub>1.83</sub> showing phase transition to PrOHCO<sub>3</sub>. It is also tolerant to up to 5 wt % water of the reactant mixture, recyclable once adequate post-treatment is employed after the reaction, and can convert the acetone–butanol–ethanol mixture into C<sub>5</sub>–C<sub>11</sub> products at the nearly equivalent yield (82%) to the acetone–butanol mixture. Therefore, the Cu/Pr<sub>2</sub>Zr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub> reported herein is an efficient catalyst for the coupling of acetone with linear aliphatic alcohols into biofuel precursors.