Supported Au nanoparticles showed efficient catalytic performance for the ring rearrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to a cyclopentanone derivative, 3-hydroxymethylcyclopentanone (HCPN), by taking advantage of the selective hydrogenation on Au nanoparticles and the Lewis acid catalysis of metal oxide supports. Among various metal oxide supported Au catalysts, the highest yield of HCPN was obtained by using Au/Nb2O5 (86% yield).

Acidic metal oxides, in particular Ta2O5, significantly enhanced the conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to a cyclopentanone derivative.