Enhancing β-hydroxy ketone selectivity in the aldol condensation of furfural and acetone over N–B–O sites in calcined boron nitride

Abstract

Air-calcined BN can catalyze the aldol reaction of furfural and acetone while suppressing dehydration to afford β-hydroxy ketone. Two types of O-substituted N defect sites were identified and a B-centered Lewis acid-catalyzed mechanism was proposed.