A Bifunctional Ruthenium Catalyst for Effective Renewable Hydrogen Production from Biomass-Derived Sorbitol

In the present worldwide situation, the transition to a more sustainable hydrogen economy from the prevailing energy infrastructure is gaining great attention. Herein, for hydrogen production from biomass-derived sorbitol, we employed a bifunctional NNN-Ru system bearing protic arms in a ligand scaffold liable for a metal-ligand cooperativity pathway as well as a secondary-coordination-sphere hydrogen-bonding interaction for the appropriate substrate orientation at the active center. A maximum turnover number of 35359 was achieved during sorbitol reforming for hydrogen production. The catalyst was found to remain active for up to seven runs with an efficient catalytic activity. A series of NMR studies were performed that revealed the active participation of functionalized ligands during catalysis.

Automated summary

In the present global situation, the transition to a more sustainable hydrogen economy is receiving great attention. This study used a bifunctional NNN-Ru system with protic arms and ligand cooperativity pathway and hydrogen-bonding interaction for hydrogen production from biomass-derived sorbitol. It achieved a maximum turnover number of 35359 during sorbitol reforming. The catalyst remained active for up to seven runs and showed efficient catalytic activity. NMR studies revealed the participation of functionalized ligands during catalysis.