Lewis-base-promoted copper-based catalyst for highly efficient hydrogenation of dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylate

The gas-phase hydrogenation of dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexane dicarboxylate to 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol was performed on a well-dispersed Cr-free supported copper-based catalyst derived from a Cu–Mg–Al layered double hydroxide precursor, and achieved a lasting 100% conversion with 99.8% selectivity up to 200 hours. The unprecedented catalytic performance is ascribed to the synergistic effect between surface active Cu0 sites and Lewis base sites.