Reductive amination, hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using silica supported cobalt- nanoparticles

Efficient and selective conversion of renewable feedstocks to essential chemicals and fuels applying green and sustainable catalytic processes is of central importance and attracts scientific interest. Among different biomass-based feedstocks, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) represents valuable platform compound widely used for the synthesis of valuable chemicals, fuels, and polymers. Here we report cobalt nanoparticles catalyzed reductive amination, hydrogenation and hydrodeoxygenation of HMF to produce furan based primary, secondary and tertiary amines including N-methylamines as well as 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, (5-methylfuran-2-yl)methanol and selected N-, O-, and S-containing heterocycles. Key to success for this HMF valorization is the use of reusable silica supported cobalt-based nanoparticles, which have been prepared by the immobilization and pyrolysis of Co-terephthalic acid-piperazine MOF template on silica.