1,2-Pentanediol and 1,5-pentanediol with high yield (~80%) could be achieved over a simple but efficient non-precious Cu–Mg3AlO4.5 bifunctional catalyst in the hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived furfuryl alcohol. The cooperative catalysis of highly dispersed metallic Cu and basic Mg3AlO4.5 drastically increases the activity and chemoselectivity.
