Mechanistic insight into the selective hydrogenolysis of sorbitol to propylene glycol and ethylene glycol on supported Ru catalysts

Abstract

Ru/C efficiently catalyzes the selective hydrogenolysis of sorbitol to ethylene glycol and propylene glycol in the presence of Ca(OH)₂. This reaction proceeds by primary dehydrogenation of sorbitol to hexose intermediates as the rate-determining step, most likely <italic>via</italic> preferential activation of its C(5)–H bond on the Ru surfaces.