Solvent effect on the rate and direction of furfural transformations during hydrogenation over the Pd/C catalyst

The rate and directions of transformations during the liquid-phase hydrogenation of furfural with molecular hydrogen in the presence of the 5%Pd/C catalyst (at 423 K, 3 MPa) depend substantially on the chemical nature of the solvent. The main products of the catalytic transformations in alcohols are alkyl furyl ethers. Hydrogenation in solvent environment of aromatic hydrocarbons and 1,4-dioxane (nonpolar solvents), as well as in ethyl acetate and DMF (polar aprotic solvents) leads to the predominant formation of furfuryl alcohol, and its highest selectivity (up to 92%) is achieved with the use of DMF.