Facile preparation of efficient Cu-SiO2 catalysts using a polyhydroxy molecular template to regulate surface copper species for dimethyl oxalate hydrogenation

β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used to prepare remarkable and stable copper-based catalysts for hydrogenation of dimethyl oxalate (DMO) to ethylene glycol (EG). The DMO conversion (95.6% vs. 99.9%), EG selectivity (53.6% vs. 97.4%) and lifetime (25 h vs. 200 h) were significantly increased on the 0.2CD-Cu-SiO2 sample compared with Cu-SiO2 at 190 °C. The prominent catalytic property was due to the significant roles of β-cyclodextrin to regulate surface dispersion of copper species along with their particle sizes, namely improved copper phyllosilicate morphology, increased BET surface area, improved Cu dispersion, and enhanced surface ratio of Cu+/(Cu+ + Cu0). [Display omitted] •The surface copper species could be regulated by β-cyclodextrin.•The copper phyllosilicate morphology has been improved.•The 0.2CD-Cu-SiO2 catalyst possesses remarkable performance for DMO hydrogenation at 190 °C.•This synthetic method is green, facile and efficient.