Bifunctional Ruthenium Nanoparticle-SILP Catalysts (RuNPs@SILP) for the Hydrodeoxygenation of Eucalyptol under Batch and Continuous Flow Conditions

Ruthenium nanoparticles immobilized on acidfunctionalized supported ionic liquid phases (RuNPs@SILPs) were applied in the hydrodeoxygenation of eucalyptol. RuNPs@SILPs were highly effective and selective catalysts toward the synthesis of the deoxygenation product p-menthane, in which the catalytic properties of the bifunctional catalysts was dependent on the acidity of the SILP. Integration of the acid and metal catalytic species onto a single-support allowed for the implementation of RuNPs@SILP into a continuous flow process. The modular synthesis of these bifunctional catalysts also allowed for an investigation into the roles of the individual and combined acid and metal functionalities in the hydrodeoxygenation of eucalyptol.