Heterogeneous additive‐free highly selective synthesis of 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan over catalysts with ultra‐low Pt content

Ultra‐low‐loaded supported Pt catalysts showed an extremely high activity in selective hydrogenation of bioavailable 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (5‐HMF) to the corresponding diol, i.e. 2,5‐bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF); among the synthesized catalysts with a Pt content varying in the range 0.025–0.25 wt%, the most active one appeared to be the sample 0.1% Pt/CeO2–ZrO2, which allows us to obtain BHMF with a 97% yield and 100% selectivity from 5‐HMF without the use of alkali or any other additives at a temperature of 170 °C and H2 pressure of 1 MPa, with the 5‐HMF:Pt ratio higher than 1000 mol mol–1. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).