Ceria‐modified copper phyllosilicate catalyst for one‐pot hydroamination of 5‐HMF with nitro‐compounds

Ceria‐modified mineral‐like copper catalyst 12 %Cu/SiO₂−CeO₂ showed a high activity and selectivity in one‐pot hydroamination of bio‐available 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural with nitro‐aromatic compounds. The catalyst was obtained by conventional deposition‐precipitation method with urea from commercial silica, copper nitrate, and ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate. The synthesized catalyst with a copper phyllosilicate structure formed inside the pores of silica was studied by XRD, N₂ adsorption, XPS, SEM and TEM methods. The possible scheme of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural hydroamination with nitro‐aromatic compounds and an evolution of the catalyst structure during the reaction were proposed. The catalyst can be successfully recycled after calcination procedure. A number of N‐furfurylamines were obtained for the first time over 12 %Cu/SiO₂−CeO₂ catalyst with the phyllosilicate structure directly from 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural and nitro‐aromatic compounds with the yields up to 85 %.