Atomic Ru catalysis for ethanol coupling to C4+ alcohols

Transformation of ethanol to more valuable C4+ alcohols by coupling reaction has been of great interest from the point of view of chemistry and technology of biomass utilization. This work reports atomic Ru on Mg and Al containing layered double oxides (MgAl-LDO) for ethanol coupling to C4+ alcohols. The atomic Ru remarkably promotes the coupling of ethanol, achieving a selectivity of 82.6% to C4+ alcohols under an ethanol conversion of 29.6%. Through tailoring Ru dispersion and acid-base properties, it has been found that atomic Ru promotes ethanol dehydrogenation and the following aldol condensation of acetaldehyde.