Facile Selective Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol Via Zif-67-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Matrix Co Nanoparticles Catalyst

A stable, low-cost, and reusable Co nanoparticles catalyst imbedded in nitrogen-doped carbon matrix (Co@C-N) for selective catalytic hydrogenation (CHG) of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FA) has been exploited. The catalyst is directly derived from 2-methylimidazole modified ZIF-67 MOFs (MOFs= metal–organic frameworks) by thermolysis. The Co@C-N catalytic system features 100% FF conversion and ca. 86% FA selectivity under 2 MPa initial hydrogen pressure at 130 °C in ethanol solvent after 2 h. Noteworthily, the scale-up reaction of FF in Co@C-N catalytic conditions was performed, and the desired product FA was obtained in 81% selectivity. Co@C-N is also appropriate for other alternative aldehydes affording > 94% conversion and > 76% selectivity towards the value-added chemicals. After the reaction, the Co@C-N could be facile recovery with an external magnetic field and reused for 6 reaction cycles without obvious deactivation of its catalytic properties