One-Pot Sequential Aldol Condensation and Hydrodeoxygenation of Furfural and Acetone to 1-Octanol Over Multifunctional Acid-Based Catalytic System

Abstract

Coupling furfural and acetone, two of the most promising chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass, expands the broad range of value-added chemicals. In this study, 1-octanol, a promising medium chain-length alcohol, was produced from furfural and acetone through a series of reactions: aldol condensation (R1), hydrogenation (R2), and hydrogenolysis (R3). Each step was individually investigated to understand its mechanism and requirements, enabling seamless integration into one-pot, two-step (R1, R2+R3) and one-pot, three-step (R1+R2+R3) processes. To facilitate these reactions, bifunctional alumina-zirconia-based catalysts were synthesized. Additionally, to enhance the yield of 1-octanol, solid acidic additives, particularly sulfonic acid-functionalized silica (KCC-1-APSO3H), were incorporated into the reaction. Among all the processes investigated, the one-pot, two-step process emerged as the best approach balancing the efficiency of the process integration and 1-octanol yield (69.1%). The present study offers valuable insights into the development of catalytic methods for producing linear alcohols from biomass.

Keywords: Furfural, Acetone, Octanol, Bifunctional Catalyst, Aldol Condensation