Mechanistic Studies of Furfural Deoxygenation on Pt(111) and Zn/Pt(111) Model Catalysts

Decarbonylation of furfural took place at 200K and decomposed completely at 400K on Pt(111). However, furfural will from a η₂(C,O) configuration on Zn/Pt(111) between 250 k to 400 K while the aromatic ring was kept intact, highlighted the promise of it to be a selective hydrogenation catalyst for biomass-derived oxygenates.