One-pot two-step synthesis of alkyl levulinates directly from furfural by combining NiSn alloy nanoparticles and montmorillonite K10

• Published in: Sustainable energy & fuels 2022-11, Vol.6 (22), p.5153-5159
• Main Authors: Yamanaka, Nobutaka, Abe, Daiki, Miwaka-Saiga, Masaiku, Yasunaga, Kenji, Yamada, Hiroshi, Shimazu, Shogo
• Format: Article
• ISSN: 2398-4902
• DOI: 10.1039/d2se00824f

In this work, we developed a catalytic system comprising Ni 3 Sn 2 alloy nanoparticles and montmorillonite K10 that is effective for the one-pot two-step synthesis of alkyl levulinates directly from furfural. Ni 3 Sn 2 alloy nanoparticles quantitatively reduced furfural to furfuryl alcohol in various alcohol solvents, namely methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 1-butanol, under H 2 atmosphere. Three types of clay minerals, that is, kaolinite, halloysite, and montmorillonite K10, were applied in ethanol solvent for the alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol to the corresponding alkyl levulinate, namely ethyl levulinate, under N 2 atmosphere. Their catalytic performances followed the order of montmorillonite K10 > halloysite > kaolinite, consistent with that of their Brønsted acidities. After the quantitative synthesis of furfuryl alcohol by Ni 3 Sn 2 alloy nanoparticles in the alcohol solvents, montmorillonite K10 was added to each reaction system to produce the corresponding alkyl levulinates through the alcoholysis of the in situ formed furfuryl alcohol. Consequently, various alkyl levulinates were obtained in moderate to good yields of up to 71%. In this work, we developed a catalytic system comprising Ni 3 Sn 2 alloy nanoparticles and montmorillonite K10 that is effective for the one-pot two-step synthesis of alkyl levulinates directly from furfural.