Fe/FeOx embedded in LDH catalyzing C-C bond forming reactions of furfural with alcohols in the absence of a homogeneous base

Fe/FeO x embedded in LDH was prepared by reducing the pre-synthesized [Fe(C 2 O 4 ) 3 ] 3− anions intercalated LDH and used as a multi-functional catalyst for synthesis of C7-C9 compound via transfer hydrogenation between furfural (C5) and short-chain alcohols (C2-C4) and a subsequent aldol reaction of furfural with intermediate short-chain aldehydes in the absence of a homogeneous base with furfuryl alcohol as a byproduct. Screening reaction conditions, evaluation and improvement of the cyclic catalytic performance, and determination of catalytically active components were performed, and the results demonstrated that both high conversion and high selectivity to the C C bond forming product can be obtained under a non-oxidizing atmosphere of Ar or H 2 /Ar mixed gas, a reaction temperature of 140 °C and a reaction time of 4 h; the catalyst was easily deactivated during the cycle experiments, however, its catalytic stability can be effectively improved by depositing Ni with weak reducibility on the surface of Fe nanoparticles at the cost of reducing partial catalytic activity. Fe/FeO x together with LDH as a whole proved to be effective in catalyzing the transfer hydrogenation reaction and the support LDH imparted basic catalytic function to the composite realizing the aldol reaction in the absence of a homogeneous base.