OP-II-3

PP-III-32Hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) and 1,3-propanediol(1,3-PDO), which are important commodity chemicals currently produced frompetroleum derivatives, has attracted significant interest. We found that rutheniumdopedCsPW is an active bifunctional catalyst for the one-pot hydrogenolysis ofglycerol to 1,2-PDO in liquid phase, providing 96% selectivity to 1,2-PDO at 21%glycerol conversion at 150°C and an unprecedented low hydrogen pressure of 5 bar.Rhodium catalyst, 5%Rh/CsPW, although less active, shows considerable selectivityto 1,3-PDO (7.1%), with 1,2-PDO being the main product (65%). The reactionprobably occurs via dehydrogenation of glycerol to glyceraldehyde followed bydehydration to 2-hydroxyacrolein and its hydrogenation to yield 1,2-PDO (Scheme 2)[2].OHHOOHOHOH-H 2 -H2OOOHOOHO+H 2O +H 2HO+H 2+H 2HOOHScheme 2. Proposed mechanism for glycerol hydrogenolysis over Ru/CsPW.References[1]. A. Alhanash, E.F. Kozhevnikova, I.V. Kozhevnikov, Appl. Catal. A 2010.[2]. A. Alhanash, E.F. Kozhevnikova, I.V. Kozhevnikov, Catal. Lett. 2008, 120, 308.AcknowledgementsFinancial support from the EPSRC (research grant EP/E039847) is gratefullyacknowledged.499