Efficient one-pot tandem conversion of saccharides to 2,5-dimethylfuran by adjusting the wettability of 2DMOF catalysts

One-pot multiple tandem synthesis of DMF from biomass saccharides including monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides is of great importance for biomass fuels and chemicals. Due to the complexity of reactions, current catalytic systems often suffer from inferior activity, low yield, and harsh reaction conditions. Here, a Pd-supported hydrophobic acidic 2DMOF (Pd/NUS-PhSO₃H-Ph) was first prepared by continuous grafting of benzenesulfonic acid and tert-butylbenzene groups followed by Pd impregnation methods. It shows catalytic efficiency for the DMF synthesis from saccharides under the reduction of polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS), which are previously unattainable in all reported catalysts. Controlled experiments and detailed characterizations show that hydrophobic 2D nanosheet structure promotes the wettability of feedstocks and intermediates for the active sites. This work proposes a new door toward an efficient and facile synthesis of DMF via designing a powerful 2DMOF-based catalyst with cooperative acid-hydrogenation catalysis.