Metal Nanoparticles Supported on Perfluorinated Superacid Polymers: A Family of Bifunctional Catalysts for the Selective, One-Pot Conversion of Vegetable Substrates in Water

In this work we describe the rational design to a new versatile family of bifunctional catalytic materials, based on the combination of supported metal nanoparticles (Pd, Rh, Ru) and the superacid, perfluorinated Aquivion® PFSA polymer. The heterogeneous catalysts were tested in the multistep valorisation of representative plant derivatives to high added-value chemicals. Particularly, the conversion of (+)-citronellal to (-)-menthol and levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone was achieved in one-pot and one-stage in the water phase, showing full selectivity at high conversion level under mild reaction conditions. The results are discussed in terms of catalyst microstructure.