Highly Selective Production of 2,5-Dimethylfuran from Fructose through Tailoring of Catalyst Wettability

Aiming at the highly selective production of 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) from fructose, a one-pot strategy and bifunctional catalysts with different surface wettability were specially designed. The hydrophobic surface assisted in weakening side reactions and promoting the adsorptive property for the hydrogen donator. The as-prepared Pd/PDVB-S-143 catalyst showed high activity and good stability: Yield of 94.2% was obtained under mild reaction conditions, and no loss in activity was observed after 5 cycles. From the standpoint of green and sustainable chemistry, there may be several possible advantages. HMF separation is avoided, reducing the amount of organic solvent and energy expenditure for purifying HMF; besides, polymethylhydrosi-loxane (PMHS) was used as the hydrogen source, increasing the convenience and efficiency of the whole process. Overall, this work demonstrates a successful strategy for rational design and preparation of novel catalysts with both high activity and superior selectivity during biomass upgrading.