Nature Communications (May 2024)

Selective production of methylindan and tetralin with xylose or hemicellulose

  • Zhufan Zou,
  • Zhenjie Yu,
  • Weixiang Guan,
  • Yanfang Liu,
  • Yumin Yao,
  • Yang Han,
  • Guangyi Li,
  • Aiqin Wang,
  • Yu Cong,
  • Xinmiao Liang,
  • Tao Zhang,
  • Ning Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-48101-x
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 15, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Indan and tetralin are widely used as fuel additives and the intermediates in the manufacture of thermal-stable jet fuel, many chemicals, medicines, and shockproof agents for rubber industry. Herein, we disclose a two-step route to selectively produce 5-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene (abbreviated as methylindan) and tetralin with xylose or the hemicelluloses from agricultural or forestry waste. Firstly, cyclopentanone (CPO) was selectively formed with ~60% carbon yield by the direct hydrogenolysis of xylose or hemicelluloses on a non-noble bimetallic Cu-La/SBA-15 catalyst. Subsequently, methylindan and tetralin were selectively produced with CPO via a cascade self-aldol condensation/rearrangement/aromatization reaction catalyzed by a commercial H-ZSM-5 zeolite. When we used cyclohexanone (another lignocellulosic cycloketone) in the second step, the main product switched to dimethyltetralin. This work gives insights into the selective production of bicyclic aromatics with lignocellulose.