Organic chemistry

Catalysis

Inorganic chemistry

Chemistry

Phosphate

Phosphonate

Levulinic acid

Phytic acid

Zirconium

Biochemistry

Mesoporous material

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

The utilization of compounds from natural sources to prepare functional materials is of great importance. Herein, we describe for the first time the preparation of organic–inorganic hybrid catalysts by using natural phytic acid as building block. Zirconium phosphonate (Zr‐PhyA) was synthesized by reaction of phytic acid and ZrCl 4 and was obtained as a mesoporous material with pore sizes centered around 8.5 nm. Zr‐PhyA was used to catalyze the mild and selective Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley (MPV) reduction of various carbonyl compounds, e.g., of levulinic acid and its esters into γ‐valerolactone. Further studies indicated that both Zr and phosphate groups contribute significantly to the excellent performance of Zr‐PhyA.

Porous Zirconium–Phytic Acid Hybrid: a Highly Efficient Catalyst for Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley Reductions