Enhanced Hydrogenation of Cyclohexyl Acetate by Cu0–Cu+ Dual Sites on the Bundled CuZnOx/CeO2 Catalysts

The hydrogenation of esters to corresponding alcohols is a crucial yet challenging process in sustainable chemistry, demanding efficient and stable non-noble metal catalysts. In this study, a CuZnO x /CeO 2 metal-oxide catalyst was synthesized via a metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived route for the hydrogenation of cyclohexyl acetate. The catalyst, featuring highly dispersed Cu species and low Cu loading (11.4wt%), was obtained by calcining a Ce-MOF precursor incorporated with Cu and Zn. By modulating the reduction temperature, the mixed valence state Cu 0 and Cu + active species were observed to coexist on the catalyst surface. After systematic investigation of structure-activity relationship in catalytic hydrogenation, and the optimized CuZnO x /CeO 2 -400-350 catalyst reached 99.9% conversion of cyclohexyl acetate, with selectivity of 98.2% to cyclohexanol under mild conditions (240 °C, 3 MPa H 2 , 11.4 wt% Cu loading in actual, 4 h). Moreover, it exhibited outstanding recyclability, maintaining over 99.0% conversion and above 97.0% cyclohexanol selectivity after five cycles. XRD and XPS analyses revealed no significant changes in the crystal structure or Cu 0 /Cu + species after reaction, confirming excellent resistance to sintering and remarkable structural stability. This work affords a feasible way for designing high-performance catalysts for ester hydrogenation, demonstrating significant potential for industrial application. Graphical