Production of cyclopentanone from furfural over Ru/C with Al_11.6PO_23.7 and application in the synthesis of diesel range alkanes

The bio-based platform molecule furfural was converted to the high value chemical cyclopentanone over Ru/C (0.5 wt%) and Al_11.6PO_23.7 catalysts in good yield (84%) with water as the medium. After screening the reaction conditions, the selectivity for cyclopentanone and cyclopentanol could be controlled by adjusting the hydrogen pressure at the temperature of 433 K. Herein, we propose a new mechanism for the synergistic catalysis of a Bronsted acid and Lewis acid for the conversion of furfural to cyclopentanone through the cyclopentenone route, which is catalyzed by Ru/C and Al_11.6PO_23.7. In addition, based on cyclopentanone, higher octane number cyclic alkanes (>85% selectivity), which are used as hydrocarbon fuels, were synthesized via a C-C coupling reaction followed by hydrodeoxygenation.