Hydrodeoxygenation of 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran over bifunctional Pt–Cs2.5H0.5PW12O40 catalyst in the gas phase: enhancing effect of gold

Abstract

2,5-Dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) is deoxygenated to n-hexane with >99% selectivity at mild conditions (90 °C, 1 bar H₂ pressure, fixed-bed reactor) in the presence of the bifunctional metal-acid catalyst Pt–CsPW comprising Pt and Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀ (CsPW), an acidic Cs salt of Keggin-type heteropoly acid H₃PW₁₂O₄₀. Addition of gold to the Pt–CsPW catalyst increases the turnover rate at Pt sites more than twofold, whereas the Au alone without Pt is not active. The enhancement of catalyst activity is attributed to PtAu alloying, which is supported by STEM-EDX and XRD analysis.