One-pot synthesis of 1,3-butanediol by 1,4-anhydroerythritol hydrogenolysis over a tungsten-modified platinum on silica catalyst

Chemical production of 1,3-butanediol from biomass-derived compounds was first reported by 1,4-anhydroerythritol hydrogenolysis over a Pt-WOx/SiO2 catalyst. The reaction proceeded by ring opening hydrogenolysis of 1,4-anhydroerythritol followed by selective removal of secondary OH groups in 1,2,3-butanetriol, and an overall 1,3-butanediol yield up to 54% was then obtained. The performance of the Pt-WOx/SiO2 catalyst for 1,4-anhydroerythritol hydrogenolysis was closely correlated with that for glycerol hydrogenolysis to 1,3-propanediol. The optimized Pt-WOx/SiO2 (Pt: 4 wt% and W: 0.94 wt%) catalyst showed 57% yield of 1,3-propanediol.