Efficient D‐Xylose Hydrogenation to D‐Xylitol over a Hydrotalcite‐Supported Nickel Phosphide Nanoparticle Catalyst

• Published in: European journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 2021; no. 33; pp. 3327 - 3331
• Main Authors: Yamaguchi, Sho, Mizugaki, Tomoo, Mitsudome, Takato
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 07.09.2021
• Subjects: Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemical synthesis; D-Xylitol; D-Xylose; Heterogeneous catalysis; Hydrogenation; Inorganic chemistry; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Nickel phosphide; Noble metals; Phosphides; Room temperature; Xylitol; Xylose
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202100432

The hydrogenation of D‐xylose is an industrially reliable method for preparing D‐xylitol, which is a commonly consumed chemical. Herein, we report the highly efficient and selective hydrogenation of D‐xylose to D‐xylitol in water over a hydrotalcite (HT: Mg6Al2CO3(OH)16 ⋅ 4(H2O))‐supported nickel phosphide nanoparticle catalyst (nano‐Ni2P/HT). The HT support drastically increased the catalytic activity of the nano‐Ni2P, enabling D‐xylitol synthesis under mild reaction conditions. Notably, the selective hydrogenation of D‐xylose to D‐xylitol proceeded even under 1 bar of H2 or at room temperature for the first time. The nano‐Ni2P/HT catalyst also exhibited the highest activity among previously reported non‐noble metal catalysts, with a turnover number of 960. Moreover, the nano‐Ni2P/HT catalyst was reusable and applicable to a concentrated D‐xylose solution (50 wt %), demonstrating its high potential for the industrial production of D‐xylitol. The hydrogenation of D‐xylose to D‐xylitol proceeded efficiently over hydrotalcite‐supported nickel phosphide nanoparticles (nano‐Ni2P/HT), which outperformed conventional catalysts and enabled D‐xylose hydrogenation even under 1 bar H2 or ambient temperature for the first time. Moreover, nano‐Ni2P/HT was reusable, and operated well in a concentrated D‐xylose solution (50 wt %).