Efficient and green synthesis of 2,3-benzofuran via gas–solid catalytic route

• Published in: Journal of catalysis Vol. 436; p. 115626
• Main Authors: Huang, Hao, Tang, Fan, Sheng, Jian, Liu, Zhankai, Fan, Jie, Zhang, Rui-Ping, Wang, Dongqi, Lu, An-Hui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-08-2024
• Subjects: 2,3-benzofuran; Adsorbed oxygen; SrO-FeOx/SiO2; The selective oxidation of ethylbenzene; Adsorbed oxygen; The selective oxidation of ethylbenzene; SrO-FeOx/SiO2; 2,3-benzofuran
• ISSN: 0021-9517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcat.2024.115626

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•2,3-Benzofuran forms directly from ethylbenzene reacting with adsorbed dioxygen.•Sr2+ modification increased adsorbed oxygen, enhancing 2,3-benzofuran selectivity.•2-Ethylphenol efficiently converts to 2,3-benzofuran under typical ethylbenzene dehydrogenation conditions.
Biologically active molecule 2,3-benzofuran is an important category of heterocyclic compounds for pharmacological agents, which is usually produced via multistep organic synthesis routes under acidic, alkaline, or halogen conditions. It remains a challenge to develop a green approach for the production of 2,3-benzofuran. Herein, we report an unprecedent green synthesis of 2,3-benzofuran with co-production of styrene in the selective oxidation of ethylbenzene reaction over Sr2+ modified FeOx/SiO2 catalyst. Characterizations with O2-TPD, UV–Vis, XANES, and XRD demonstrate that the addition of Sr2+ increased the content of adsorbed oxygen and dispersion of the iron species. Kinetic investigations and DFT calculations reveal that firstly ethylbenzene reacted with oxygen adsorbed on the Fe3+ species to form the intermediate 2-ethylphenol, followed by selective oxidation of 2-ethylphenol to efficiently generate 2,3-benzofuran. These discoveries present an efficient pathway to produce 2,3-benzofuran and offer novel insights into the synthesis of furan rings, thereby contributing to advancement in chemical synthesis processes.