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Transformation of biomass to chemicals and fuels is a long-term goal in both science and industry. Here, we review the fast development and recent advances of 3d-metal-based catalysts including Cu, Fe, Co, Ni and Mn in lignocellulosic biomass conversion.

Transfer hydrogenation (TH) of aldehydes/ketones with renewable and nontoxic ethanol is an attractive solution to produce alcohols. Here, we found that singleatom Ni−N 4 site catalysts bring high activity and selectivity for the reduction of hydroxymethyl-functionalized aldehydes/ketones using renewable and nontoxic ethanol as the hydrogen source. When biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was used as the substrate, a turnover frequency (TOF) value of 22 h −1 for the as-prepared catalyst was achieved. Experiments and simulating computation revealed that pyridinic N of the Ni−N 4 site is the active center and the presence of single-atom Ni reduces the electron density of its coordinated pyridinic N and thus achieves the high catalytic activity, demonstrating the possibility of catalytic TH reactions over metal-free sites.

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