Selective transfer hydrogenation of biomass derived furanic molecules using cyclohexanol as a hydrogen donor over nanostructured Cu/MgO catalyst

• Small size Cu species and its well dispersion on MgO support are active part of this transformation. • Simultaneous production of furanic alcohols and cyclohexanol. • High selectivity and good conversion. • DFT calculation reveals the endergonic process of H 2 removal from cyclohexanol and the exergonic process of H 2 addition. Upgradation of biomass derived furanic molecules viz. Furfural and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) through transfer hydrogenation using cyclohexanol as a hydrogen donor agent over CuMgO-based catalyst is reported here. CuMgO (2–10 wt% Cu loading) based catalysts were synthesized through hydrothermal route and thoroughly investigated by XRD, SEM, TEM, ICP-AES, BET-surface area, XPS, H 2 -TPR and DFT calculation. 5 wt% CuMgO-5 (designated as CuMgO-5) catalyst exhibited very high catalytic activity (>99% conversion of reactant) in the transfer hydrogenation of furanic molecules to corresponding alcohols with ∼100% selectivity at 180 °C after 7 h of reaction. Catalytic experiments and detailed characterization of the catalyst indicate that high Cu dispersion and the presence of metallic Cu on the MgO surface are key parameters for its high catalytic activity. Furthermore, the kinetics studies showed that the reaction is sensitive with reaction temperature. DFT calculation reveals the endergonic process of H 2 removal from cyclohexanol and the exergonic process of H 2 addition to carbonyl group of furanic molecules.