Copper chromite carboxylic acid hydrogenation

The hydrogenation of HMF in the presence of metal catalysts (Raney nickel, supported platinum metals, copper chromite) leads to quantitative amounts of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan used in the manufacture of polyurethanes, or 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran that can be used in the preparation of polyesters [30]. The oxidation of HMF is used to prepare 5-formylfuran-2-carboxylic acid, and furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (a potential substitute of terephthalic acid). Oxidation by air on platinum catalysts leads quantitatively to the diacid. [32], The oxidation of HMF to dialdehyde was achieved at 90 °C with air as oxidizing in the presence of V205/Ti02 catalysts with a selectivity up to 95% at 90% conversion [33]. 

A different interface is catalytic upgrading of fermentation broth, which uses both catalytic reduction and catalytic oxidation. For example, let s take a basic one that ought to be easy to do— reduction of a carboxylic acid to a primary alcohol. If you are doing it in a target-oriented, academic environment, you would use diborane. This has quantitative yields. The problem with that is that the stoichiometric reaction comes from boron trifluoride, I believe. That is where the diborane comes from. If you try to do the same thing with catalytic hydrogenation, you start seeing use of copper chromite and nickel catalysts. You can also do this on rhodium now. 

---