Catalytic conversion of furfuryl alcohol or levulinic acid into alkyl levulinates using a sulfonic acid-functionalized hafnium-based MOF

• Published in: Catalysis communications Vol. 124; pp. 62 - 66
• Main Authors: Gupta, Shyam Sunder R., Kantam, Mannepalli Lakshmi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 05.05.2019
• Subjects: Alkyl levulinates; Furfuryl alcohol; Hafnium-based; Levulinic acid; Metal-organic framework; Hafnium-based; Metal-organic framework; Levulinic acid; Furfuryl alcohol; Alkyl levulinates
• ISSN: 1566-7367; 1873-3905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.catcom.2019.03.003

Biomass conversion using reusable solid acid catalysts are highly desirable to comply with the principles of green chemistry. Here, we report a sulfonic acid-functionalized hafnium-based metal-organic framework (MOF), UiO-66(Hf)-SO3H, as an efficientsolid acidcatalyst for the alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol (FA) andesterification of levulinic acid (LA) affording alkyl levulinates (ALs). Among the as prepared UiO-66 based MOFs(UiO-66(Hf), UiO-66(Hf)-NH2, UiO-66(Hf)-SO3H and UiO-66(Zr)-SO3H), UiO-66(Hf)-SO3H holds highest Brønsted acidity and therefore exhibits excellent catalytic activity towards production of ALs. The highest Brønsted acidity in UiO-66(Hf)-SO3His the result of the covalently bound sulfonic acid groups present inorganic linkers along with the ligated hydroxyl groups (Hf-μ3-OH) to the Hf metal clusters. [Display omitted] •Efficient production of alkyl levulinates using a reusable solid acid catalyst.•Sulfonic acid-functionalized MOF, UiO-66(Hf)-SO3H holds strong Brønsted acidity.•Alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol and esterification of levulinic acid.•UiO-66(Hf)-SO3H shows excellent catalytic activity and recyclability.