Catalytic selective hydrogenation and rearrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 3-hydroxymethyl-cyclopentone over a bimetallic nickel–copper catalyst in water

The selective hydrogenation and rearrangement of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) to 3-hydroxymethyl-cyclopentone (HCPN) were studied over a MOF-derived bimetallic nickel–copper catalyst in water. The combination of nickel and copper dramatically improved the efficiency in both the selective hydrogenation of the carbonyl group of 5-HMF and the hydrogenative ring-rearrangement of the C5 ring, affording 70.3% yield for HCPN and 99.8% yield for the rearrangement products. Moreover, it was indicated that water acted as a solvent, reactant, and proton donor by dissociation at an elevated temperature, which supplied slightly acidic conditions and promoted the rearrangement reaction.