Hydrogenolysis of Glycerol to Propanediol Over Ru: Polyoxometalate Bifunctional Catalyst

Ruthenium-doped (5 wt%) acidic heteropoly salt Cs_2.5H_0.5PW₁₂O₄₀] (CsPW) is an active bifunctional catalyst for the one-pot hydrogenolysis of glycerol to 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) in liquid phase, providing 96% selectivity to 1,2-PDO at 21% glycerol conversion at 150 °C and an unprecedented low hydrogen pressure of 5 bar. Rhodium catalyst, 5%Rh/CsPW, although less active, shows considerable selectivity to 1,3-PDO (7.1%), with 1,2-PDO being the main product (65%).