Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Synthesis of Indoxyl-glycosides for Detection of Glycosidase Activities
Published on: May 27, 2015
Selective production of methylindan and tetralin with xylose or hemicellulose
Zhufan Zou1,2,3, Zhenjie Yu1,3, Weixiang Guan1
1CAS Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Applied Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China.
Abstract:
Indan and tetralin are widely used as fuel additives and the intermediates in the manufacture of thermal-stable jet fuel, many chemicals, medicines, and shockproof agents for rubber industry. Herein, we disclose a two-step route to selectively produce 5-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indene (abbreviated as methylindan) and tetralin with xylose or the hemicelluloses from agricultural or forestry waste. Firstly, cyclopentanone (CPO) was selectively formed with ~60% carbon yield by the direct hydrogenolysis of xylose or hemicelluloses on a non-noble bimetallic Cu-La/SBA-15 catalyst. Subsequently, methylindan and tetralin were selectively produced with CPO via a cascade self-aldol condensation/rearrangement/aromatization reaction catalyzed by a commercial H-ZSM-5 zeolite. When we used cyclohexanone (another lignocellulosic cycloketone) in the second step, the main product switched to dimethyltetralin. This work gives insights into the selective production of bicyclic aromatics with lignocellulose.
More Related Videos
14:53Techniques for the Evolution of Robust Pentose-fermenting Yeast for Bioconversion of Lignocellulose to Ethanol
Published on: October 24, 2016
08:09A Novel Method for the Pentosan Analysis Present in Jute Biomass and Its Conversion into Sugar Monomers Using Acidic Ionic Liquid
Published on: June 1, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Bioreactor Controls-III
Production of Alcohol
Production of Organic Acids
Production of Antibiotics
Production of Pharmaceuticals