Construction of Atomically Dispersed Niδ+ Species on Leaf-like Al2O3 for Selective Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural

Abstract

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes to α,β-unsaturated alcohols over metal oxide catalysts is of potential for industrial application. Herein, we have developed a Ni/f-Al₂O₃ catalyst comprising atomically dispersed Ni^δ+ (2 < δ < 3) species on porous leaf-like Al₂O₃, over which a > 97% yield of furfuryl alcohol (FOL) from CTH of furfural (FFR) is obtained with a turnover frequency (TOF) of 216 h^− 1. Most importantly, the catalyst can be recycled at least 6 times without obvious loss of activity. Its superior catalytic performance can be attributed to the abundant and stable Ni^δ+-type acid-base pairs on the surface of Ni/f-Al₂O₃.