Operando generated copper -based catalyst enabling efficient electrosynthesis of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan

Electrocatalytic upgrading of biomass-derived platform molecules has emerged as a sustainable and environ-mentally benign route to produce high-value chemicals. The main challenge lies in developing efficient cat-alysts for the selective activation of designated chemical bonds in the presence of various reducible groups. This work demonstrated a high-efficiency electrochemical conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), an important industrial synthetic reagent. A highly porous Cu-based cata-lyst was developed that achieved nearly 100% BHMF selectivity and long-term stability. Through comprehen-sive operando and ex-situ structural characterizations, an electrochemically generated catalyst with abundant Cu/Cu2O interfaces was identified as a catalytically active phase for HMF conversion. Deuterated BHMF, with the potential to produce deuterated drugs, was also synthesized using D2O as the deuterium source. Density func-tional theory calculations show that the Cu/Cu2O interface structure exhibits relatively low energy barriers for the hydrogenation of HMF to BHMF. This work provides insights into the origin of electrocatalytic hydrogenation activity and highlights the promising potential of the electrocatalytic synthesis of high-value chemicals.

Automated summary

This work demonstrated a highly efficient electrochemical conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan and developed a highly porous Cu-based catalyst with high BHMF selectivity and long-term stability. The electrochemically generated catalyst with abundant Cu/Cu2O interfaces was identified as the catalytically active phase for HMF conversion through structural characterizations.