Iron(II) Disulfides as Precursors of Highly Selective Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Dibenzyl Ether into Toluene

Abstract

AbstractIn this report, we show that nanocrystalline pyrite and marcasite (FeS2), supported on SBA‐15, aerosil SiO2, activated carbon or Al2O3, are precursors of highly active catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation of dibenzyl ether into toluene. High yields of toluene (up to 100 %) were achieved in experiments performed at 250 °C under initial H2 pressure of 100 bar for 2 h. In the recycling experiments, results from XRD and XPS analyses indicate that a fresh surface, formed upon the chemical transformation of FeS2 into Fe(1−x)S, is responsible for the high activity and high selectivity achieved in the conversion of dibenzyl ether into toluene.