Pt–Y supported on magnesium–aluminium composite oxide catalysts for highly selective synthesis of 1,2-pentanediol from furfuryl alcohol under mild conditions

The selective hydrogenolysis of furfuryl alcohol (FFA) to 1,2-pentanediol (1,2-PeD) represents a promising route for biomass valorization, yet it remains challenging due to the competing over-hydrogenation of the furan ring and the recalcitrant C5–O bond cleavage. Herein, we report a highly efficient bimetallic Pt–Y catalyst supported on a MgO–AlO(OH) mixed oxide (MAO) that enables the selective hydrogenolysis of FFA to 1,2-PeD under remarkably mild conditions (140 °C, 0.8 MPa H2). Structural characterizations (AC-HAADF-STEM, XPS) confirm the formation of Pt–Y mixed clusters, which induce electron transfer from Pt to Y. This electronic modulation, combined with the tailored basicity of the MAO support, effectively suppresses the over-hydrogenation pathway while promoting the activation of the target C–O bond. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy shows that after the introduction of Y, FFA adsorbs on the catalyst surface in a vertical adsorption configuration through its O–H and C–O–C bonds, promoting the selective ring-opening. Consequently, the optimized 0.75Pt0.45Y/MAO catalyst achieves complete FFA conversion with an exceptional 1,2-PeD selectivity of 80.3% (110 mol 1,2-PeD·mol Pt per h), significantly outperforming its monometallic counterparts. Furthermore, the catalyst demonstrates outstanding stability in a continuous-flow reactor for over 200 hours without obvious deactivation. This work provides a strategy for designing synergistic bimetallic catalysts for the sustainable production of 1,2-PeD under mild conditions.