Rational design of highly dispersed ultra-small Ru nanoparticles on MgO–Al2O3 for efficient and selective aromatic hydrogenation

Abstract

Continuous selective hydrogenation of aromatic compounds exhibits broad application prospects, serving as a key process for the synthesis of high-value-added polymer monomers and pharmaceutical intermediates. The fabrication of heterogeneous catalysts being even more critical to enabling this continuous process. Herein, the traditional preparation protocol of supported Ru-based catalysts was systematically optimized, resulting in a novel Ru/MgO–Al₂O₃ catalyst with highly dispersed, ultra-small Ru nanoparticles. This innovative catalyst demonstrated exceptional catalytic activity and selectivity for the hydrogenation of phenolic compounds to alicyclic alcohols, with preferential aromatic ring hydrogenation and suppressed C–O/C–C bond hydrogenolysis. Leveraging this insight, additional studies revealed its comparable outstanding activity and selectivity in the hydrogenation of aromatic esters and ethers to corresponding alicyclic derivatives. This discovery is critical for realizing aromatic hydrocarbon saturation and non-aromatic residue in chemical processes, thereby endowing it with profound significance in the field of chemical manufacturing.