Investigation of Activated‐Carbon‐Supported Copper Catalysts with Unique Catalytic Performance in the Hydrogenation of Dimethyl Oxalate to Methyl Glycolate

Abstract

Copper‐based activated‐carbon (AC)‐supported catalysts were synthesized by a facile ammonia evaporation–impregnation method. Unlike the conventional Cu/SiO2 catalyst, which showed highly catalytic selectivity towards ethylene glycol (EG) or EtOH, Cu/AC catalysts display unique selectivity to methyl glycolate (MG). The catalytic performance relies on the high content of surface Cu+ species and the relatively large copper particles with moderate hydrogenation activity.

Freezing copper as a noble metal–like catalyst for preliminary hydrogenation

“…2B). According to literatures, the asymmetric and broad Auger peak of AE-made supported Cu/SiO 2 catalysts can be deconvoluted into two symmetrical peaks centered at 914.8 and 918.2 eV, corresponding to Cu + and Cu 0 , respectively ( 13 , 22 , 23 ). The peak position and their intensity are shown in table S1.…”

“…The in situ diffuse reflectance infrared (IR) Fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS) results in Fig. 1D show strong adsorption of CO on the Cu + and Cu 0 species of AE-Cu/SiO 2 , corresponding to the IR absorbance peaks at about 2127 and 2102 cm −1 , respectively ( 13 ). In comparison, no CO adsorption is observed on the SP-Cu/SiO 2 sample, neither on Cu 0 nor on Cu + , indicating that the interaction between CO and Cu species is very weak.…”

Direct conversion of C6 sugars to methyl glycerate and glycolate in methanol

“…More importantly, they are also used as platform molecules in the synthesis of macromolecule polymer material. [16][17][18][19][20] So far, many strategies, e.g., the coupling of formaldehyde and methyl formate, and the hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate, have been developed to prepare MG from the different conventional substrates, and the corresponding catalysts containing heteropolyacids and homogenous organic metal or heterogeneous metal catalysts have been explored. [21][22][23][24][25] Additionally, MG was also obtained from the oxidation of biomass-derived ethylene glycol in methanol by using nanoparticle Au catalyst under mild reaction conditions.…”

Efficient Synthesis of 2-Methylfuran from Bio-Derived Furfural over Supported Copper Catalyst: The Synergistic Effect of CuOx and Cu

“…It is well known that the activated carbon (AC) supported copper catalysts (Cu/AC) possess superior catalytic activity toward a spectrum of reactions such as hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate . Although Cu/AC catalysts can be synthesized by various impregnation methods such as incipient wetness impregnation and ammonia evaporation–impregnation methods, it remains as a great challenge to control Cu particle size and more critically, the ratio between different redox states copper species.…”