Chemicals from biomass: Etherification of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) into 5,5′(oxy-bis(methylene))bis-2-furfural (OBMF) with solid catalysts

Starting from 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), it has been possible to produce 5,5′-oxy(bismethylene)-2-furaldehyde (OBMF), which is an interesting prepolymer and antiviral precursor, using Lewis and Brönsted solid acid catalysts. Structured micro- and mesoporous aluminosilicates are active and selective, but Al-MCM-41 displays the best performance owing to smaller diffusion constraints. The yield obtained is higher than with homogeneous acid catalysts. Metal-substituted zeolites and mesoporous materials bearing Lewis acidity are also active and selective catalysts for the above reaction.

Graphical abstract5,5′-Oxy(bismethylene)-2-furaldehyde (OBMF), which is a prepolymer and antiviral precursor, has been synthesized from 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) using Lewis and Brönsted micro- and mesoporous aluminosilicates as heterogeneous acid catalysts.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (32 K)Download as PowerPoint slide