The invention relates to a Cu-based catalyst and application of the Cu-based catalyst in tandem preparation of
adipic acid (ester) or hexanediol from
propiolic acid (ester) or
propargyl alcohol. According to the method, by constructing the
copper-based catalysts in different dispersed states, the structure of the
copper active species is effectively regulated and controlled, the
copper active species are suitable for different reaction steps such as oxidative
coupling reaction and
hydrogenation reaction, and therefore the efficiency of the whole
cascade reaction is improved. In the reaction process, the fully-exposed copper cluster catalyst is beneficial to promoting the oxidative
coupling reaction of
propiolic acid or
propiolic acid ester, and the
copper nanoparticle catalyst shows good hydrogenation activity and selectivity in the subsequent
hydrogenation reaction. Compared with the prior art, the method has the advantages that a
noble metal catalyst does not need to be used, efficient conversion from propiolic acid (ester) or
propargyl alcohol to
adipic acid (ester) or hexanediol can be achieved under mild conditions by reasonably regulating and controlling the dispersion state of copper species and
reaction conditions, and the method has the advantages of being high in reaction selectivity, good in catalyst stability, high in environmental friendliness and the like. The method provides a green and efficient technical approach for synthesizing C6
dicarboxylic acid with high additional value and ester compounds thereof by taking
acetylene and C1 raw materials as starting points, and has a good application prospect.