Production of jet fuel cycloalkanes from 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural via cascade catalysis on Mg(Al)(Zr)O supported CuCo

Catalytic conversion of biomass-derived 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF) into carbon-increased hydrocarbons as drop-in energy-rich biofuels has received a great deal of concern for the development of sustainable chemical industry. Here, we demonstrate a one-pot conversion of 5-HMF into C 9 -alkanes on one single catalyst, acidic–basic layered double oxides (Mg(Al)(Zr)O) supported CuCo alloy. The well-defined multifunctional catalytic sites with harmonious combination carry out cascade catalysis, affording C 9 -alkanes (including 30% of more value-added branched-cycloalkanes) in 83% yield. The basic–acidic sites on Mg(Al)(Zr)O show high activity for aldol condensation of 5-HMF and acetone, producing 4-[5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furanyl]-3-buten-2-one (HAc) in a yield of >99%. The engineered Co–Cu–Co linkages on supported CuCo perform efficient hydrodeoxygenation, affording C 9 -alkanes in a selectivity of 96% from HAc. C 9 -cycloalkanes are generated from the cyclization of the corresponding monohydric alcohol intermediates by the synergy of acidic and CuCo sites in the hydrodeoxygenation reaction.