Photocatalytic synthesis of ethylene glycol and hydrogen from methyl tert-butyl ether

Yong Peng, Nils Rockstroh, Jabor Rabeah, Stephan Bartling, Xingchao Dai, Xuetao Qin, Trang Minh Pham, Annette-Enrica Surkus, Robert Thomas, Hermann Seitz, Henrik Junge () and Matthias Beller ()
Additional contact information
Yong Peng: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Nils Rockstroh: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Jabor Rabeah: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Stephan Bartling: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Xingchao Dai: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Xuetao Qin: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Trang Minh Pham: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Annette-Enrica Surkus: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Robert Thomas: University of Rostock
Hermann Seitz: University of Rostock
Henrik Junge: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)
Matthias Beller: Leibniz-Institut für Katalyse e.V. (LIKAT Rostock)

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract In this work, we have developed a green and sustainable strategy for the synthesis of ethylene glycol, which is a highly valuable compound in chemical industry. In contrast to the currently applied energy-intensive process based on petroleum resources, this work demonstrates the photocatalytic pathway of methanol dehydrogenative coupling to produce ethylene glycol, utilizing methyl tert-butyl ether as the substrate to protect the hydroxyl group against oxidation. Photocatalytic tests reveal efficient C-C coupling of methyl tert-butyl ether with Pt/C-TiO(B)-650 catalyst under light irradiation, with the target product 1,2-di-tert-butoxyethane at a selectivity of 67% and a Pt-based turnover frequency of 2754 h−1. Scale up test demonstrates high stability of the system, reaching an accumulated turnover number of 120 000 as well as isolation of 13 g of the coupling product after 130 h irradiation. The target ethylene glycol is obtained by the hydrolysis of the dimer using the regenerable acidic resin catalyst.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59125-2

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