Facile Construction of Alloy‐Metal Oxide Interfaces Boosting the One‐Pot Conversion Of Methyl Levulinate to 1,4‐Pentanediol.

In this work, a series of N‐doped carbon supported FeCo bimetallic catalysts with plentiful FeCo alloy‐FeO interfaces, which are derived from metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) ZIF‐67, are designed for the one‐pot direct conversion of methyl levulinate to 1,4‐pentanediol. The FeCo alloy‐FeO interfaces are precisely controlled via tuning the reduction temperatures and Fe/Co ratios. The optimal catalyst gives a high 1,4‐pentanediol yield of 90.5 % along with complete conversion of methyl levulinate. These catalysts are carefully characterized by multiple techniques, such as HRTEM, XRD, XPS, NH3−TPD, and Py−IR. It is found that Co presents in electron deficiency caused by the electron transference from Co to Fe in FeCo alloy, which in turn enhances the heterolysis of H2. In addition, plentiful Lewis acid sites derived from interfacial FeO species favour the re‐adsorption and the ring‐opening reaction of γ‐valerolactone. With the synergy between FeCo alloy and Lewis acid, the FeCo alloy‐FeO interfaces exhibit excellent catalytic activity for selective hydrogenation of methyl levulinate to 1,4‐pentanediol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]