Versatile cobalt catalysts for the selective hydrogenolysis of furfural/furfuryl alcohol to 1,5-pentanediol: a review

Abstract

Selective conversion of furfural (FUR) and furfuryl alcohol (FAL) to 1,5-pentanediol (1,5-PDO) presents an attractive route for upgrading lignocellulosic biomass into high-value polymer precursors. Cobalt-based catalysts have emerged as promising alternatives for this reaction owing to their low cost, tunable redox properties, and bifunctional catalytic behavior. This review critically summarizes recent progress in Co-based catalysts for 1,5-PDO synthesis, including active-site structures, catalyst design strategies, mechanistic understanding, and key reaction parameters. The cooperative functions of metallic Co⁰ in hydrogen activation and Lewis acidic Co²⁺–oxygen vacancy (O_v) sites in directing selective C–O bond cleavage are discussed, together with the roles of metal and oxide promoters in modulating electronic structures, adsorption configurations, and product selectivity. Challenges and opportunities including catalyst stability, activity enhancement, advanced synthesis strategies, and liquid-phase operando characterization are outlined. The insights provided are expected to guide the rational design of high-performance Co-based catalysts with industrial potential for 1,5-PDO production.