Selective Conversion of Cellulose to Hydroxyacetone and 1‐Hydroxy‐2‐Butanone with Sn–Ni Bimetallic Catalysts.

The high‐value‐added chemicals hydroxyacetone (HA) and 1‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone (HB) were produced from agricultural waste over a Ni3Sn4‐SnOx catalyst. The Sn–Ni intermetallic compound and SnOx acted as the active sites for HA and HB production by selectively cleaving the target C−C and C−O bonds. Approximately 70 % of the total HA and HB yield was obtained by selective hydrogenolysis of cellulose. This strategy expands the application of cellulose towards renewable production of high‐value C3 and C4 keto‐alcohols from cellulosic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]