MOF-derived Fe3O4@SiO2/Al2O3 yolk-shell nanoreactor for efficient furfural acetalization

Yolk-shell nanoreactors feature numbers of advantages in promoting catalytic performance. This work demonstrates the fabrication of yolk-shell Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 - T ( T  = 500–900 °C) from metal-organic framework. Characterizations indicate the Fe 3 O 4 yolk and SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 shell of the obtained nanoreactors. Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 –800 showed excellent performance in furfural acetalization to 2-(dimethoxymethyl)furan, achieving a 97% yield at 60 °C, atmospheric pressure within 5 h. Control experiments reveal the high reactivity of Fe 3 O 4 yolks for furfural acetalization, and acidic Al species are favorable for reactivity promotion. Besides, porous SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 shells facilitate mass transfer and increase the accessibility of active sites, also contribute to the high performance and stability.