Hydrogenation Rearrangement of Furan Compounds to Cyclopentanones Catalyzed by CoNC with In Situ‐Generated Uniform Metal–Acid Pairs

Z Zhensheng Shen (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) K Kang Xue (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) M Minhua Ai (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) T Tehreem Yaqub (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) L Lun Pan (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) Z Zhen‐Feng Huang (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry‐Education Platform for Energy Storage Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China) X Xiangwen Zhang (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) R Ruijie Gao (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) J Jinlong Gong (School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University) C Chengxiang Shi (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage) J Ji‐Jun Zou (Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry‐Education Platform for Energy Storage Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China)

Abstract

Abstract The hydrogenation rearrangement of biomass‐derived furan aldehydes and ketones to cyclopentanones holds significant promise for sustainable fine chemical production, but developing efficient catalysts with low metal loading and uniform metal‐Brønsted sites presents a significant challenge. Herein, we report a CoNC catalyst with in situ generated uniform metal–acid pairs, which exhibits superior activity and selectivity significantly outperforming reported non‐noble and noble metal catalysts. Moreover, CoNC shows excellent cycling stability and broad substrate adaptability. Catalyst characterizations, kinetic and isotopic labeling studies reveal that CoNC can efficiently dissociate H 2 to form H + –N–Co–H − , and easily adsorb and activate H 2 O for OH − exchange to form H + –N–Co–OH − , producing abundant Brønsted acid sites that then generate uniform metal–acid pairs. The H 2 activation on the Co site enables the furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol, and the in situ generated acid sites catalyze the subsequent ring‐opening rearrangement. Moreover, the metal–acid pairs effectively suppress undesired side reactions such as over‐hydrogenation and polymerization. This work provides a new class of metal–acid bifunctional catalyst and expands the application of M‐NC catalysts.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 4
Published January 22, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (11)

Z

Zhensheng Shen

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

K

Kang Xue

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

M

Minhua Ai

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

T

Tehreem Yaqub

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education School of Chemical Engineering and Technology Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

L

Lun Pan

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

Z

Zhen‐Feng Huang

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry‐Education Platform for Energy Storage Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China

X

Xiangwen Zhang

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

R

Ruijie Gao

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

J

Jinlong Gong

School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University

C

Chengxiang Shi

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry-Education Platform for Energy Storage

J

Ji‐Jun Zou

Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Institute of Molecular Plus, National Industry‐Education Platform for Energy Storage Tianjin University Tianjin 300072 China