One-pot conversion of sugar and sugar polyols to n-alkanes without C-C dissociation over the Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ catalyst combined with H-ZSM-5

High (≥95% C) yields of n-hexane and n-pentane were obtained by hydrogenolysis of aqueous sorbitol and xylitol, respectively, at 413-443 K by using the Ir-ReO_x/SiO₂ catalyst combined with H-ZSM-5 as a cocatalyst and n-dodecane as a cosolvent. The direct production of n-hexane from glucose or cellobiose can be achieved by using the same system. The catalyst can be reused simply by the removal of the n-dodecane phase, which contains the product alkane, and the addition of fresh n-dodecane and substrate.