ETD

• BHMF
• BHMTHF
• catalysis
• green chemistry
• HMF
• hydrogen transfer
• hydrotalcite derived mixed oxides

The aim of this thesis was to synthesize Ni-hydrotalcite derived mixed oxide catalysts capable of modulating their selectivity towards 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan or 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran, depending on the presence or absence of hydrogen. Specifically, the production of BHMF occurred via hydrogen transfer in the absence of molecular hydrogen, using isopropanol as a hydrogen donor, while the production of BHMTHF required the use of hydrogen pressure. The project consisted of an initial synthesis and characterization of different Ni-hydrotalcite derived mixed oxides, in order to optimize the selective reduction of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan, and to ascertain the optimal reaction conditions for the production of the two diols.