Synthesis of jet fuel cycloalkane precursors with biomass-derived feedstocks over bimetallic Cu-Ni catalyst

2,5-Bis(furan-2-ylmethyl)cyclopentan-1-one (FCFDH), a C15 precursor for renewable jet fuel range cycloalkane and high-value electronic photolithography material, was selectively synthesized via a cascade aldol condensation/hydrogenation reaction of furfural and cyclopentanone under solvent-free conditions. Non-noble metal Cu and Ni modified MgAl-hydrotalcite (Cu-Ni/MgAl-HT) was found to be an effective and stable catalyst for this reaction. Under the optimized conditions (423 K, 4 MPa H₂, 10 h), 97.0% cyclopentanone conversion and 82.0% carbon yield of FCFDH were achieved. Based on the characterization results, the presence of Ni and Cu species increased the acidity of MgAl-HT and formed Ni-Cu alloy particles with an average size of 2.33 nm during the preparation of catalyst. Both effects facilitate the aldol condensation of furfural and cyclopentanone and the formation of FCFDH by the selective hydrogenation of C=C bond.