A new approach for the aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid without using transition metal catalysts

A transition metal-free method for the aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) under O2 or ambient air is developed by the use of inexpensive NaOH, and the possible mechanism is discussed.76