Synthesis of bio-based methylcyclopentadiene via direct hydrodeoxygenation of 3-methylcyclopent-2-enone derived from cellulose.

Liu, Yanting; Wang, Ran; Qi, Haifeng; Liu, Xiao Yan; Li, Guangyi; Wang, Aiqin; Wang, Xiaodong; Cong, Yu et al. · Nat Commun · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The exploration of highly efficient processes to convert renewable biomass to fuels and value-added chemicals is stimulated by the energy and environment problems. Herein, we describe an innovative route for the production of methylcyclopentadiene (MCPD) with cellulose, involving the transformation of cellulose into 3-methylcyclopent-2-enone (MCP) and subsequent selective hydrodeoxygenation to MCPD over a zinc-molybdenum oxide catalyst. The excellent performance of the zinc-molybdenum oxide catalyst is attributed to the formation of ZnMoO<sub>3</sub> species during the reduction of ZnMoO<sub>4</sub>. Experiments reveal that preferential interaction of ZnMoO<sub>3</sub> sites with the C=O bond instead of C=C bond in vapor-phase hydrodeoxygenation of MCP leads to highly selective formations of MCPD (with a carbon yield of 70%).

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