Direct biomass valorisation to γ-valerolactone by Ru-PNP catalysed hydrogenation in acid

Abstract

Converting carbohydrate-rich biomass waste directly to γ-valerolactone (GVL) is highly attractive but challenging owing to the inert nature and high complexity of biomass, necessitating a versatile and selective catalytic system....

Influence of Impurities in the Chemical Processing Chain of Biomass on the Catalytic Valorisation of Cellulose towards γ-Valerolactone

“…Using directly carbohydrate-rich biomass waste as feedstock, Koranchalil and Nielsen have associated the formation of insoluble humins to the diminished activity and the low yields to GVL obtained using the homogeneous Ru-MACHO-BH catalysts in aqueous H 3 PO 4 , which are favoured under higher H 3 PO 4 acid concentration and higher temperature [92]. They speculate that humins are formed to a greater extent in the more concentrated samples [93].…”

Homogeneous Catalyzed Direct Conversion of Furfural to Gamma‐Valerolactone

“…[34] Recently, we demonstrated that Ru-MACHO-BH is also an active hydrogenation catalyst under acidic conditions for the direct transformation of carbohydrates and raw biomass to GVL. [35] Herein, we show the activity of PNP pincer complex in acidic medium (H 3 PO 4 ) for the direct synthesis of GVL from furfural through a one-pot sequence of hydrogenation, hydrolysis, a second hydrogenation, and finally a lactonization (Scheme 1). Showing that furfural is a viable substrate for GVL production under acidic conditions using homogeneous catalysis demonstrates that hemicellulose is also a feasible substrate for this approach using similar conditions.…”