Activity of heterogeneous supported Cu and Ru catalysts in acceptor-less alcohol dehydrogenation

Acceptor-less alcohol dehydrogenation reaction allows the co-production of added-value carbonyl compounds and H2 from alcohols. Focusing on supported Ru and Cu catalysts, we evaluated the support effect on the dehydrogenation of 2-octanol and 1-octanol and identified the side products as resulting from aldolisation coupling. The most active and selective catalysts were then tested on the aliphatic vicinal-diol octan-1,2-diol and the highest conversion was reached using Cu/ZrO2 (60%) with a high selectivity (94%) towards 1-hydroxy-2-octanone. [Display omitted] •Acceptor-less 2-octanol dehydrogenation over Cu and Ru catalysts shows strong support effect.•Liquid-phase dehydrogenation of diol over Cu and Ru catalysts is reported for the first time.•Cu/ZrO2 was the most active catalyst among the samples.•Aldolisation coupling was responsible for by-product formation.