This work develops a metal-free catalyst to enhance furfural hydrogenation, suggesting a sustainable approach to biomass valorization.
Furfural (FAL), a key biomass‐derived platform compound, upgrading to furfuryl alcohol (FOL) relies heavily on transition metal catalysts, which suffer from high cost, toxicity, and harsh reaction conditions. Herein, we developed a metal‐free heterogeneous catalyst (PCOFs‐BCF) by synthesizing quinoline‐linked phosphorus‐containing covalent organic frameworks (PCOFs), then postmodifying tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (BCF) to construct frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs). Phenylsilane as reducing agent and water as coreagent, PCOFs‐BCF achieved excellent conversion and yield, outperforming homogeneous FLPs and phosphine‐free analogs. Mechanistic studies confirmed that FLPs activate phenylsilane to generate hydrides for FAL carbonyl reduction, while water provides protons for silyl ether hydrolysis to FOL. This work offers a recyclable FLP catalyst strategy for sustainable biomass FAL valorization.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wang et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: