Chemicals from Biomass: Synthesis of Biologically Active Furanochalcones by Claisen–Schmidt Condensation of Biomass-Derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) with Acetophenones

Superelectrophilic activation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and 2,5-diformylfuran: organic synthesis based on biomass-derived products

The reaction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) with arenes in superacidic trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (triflic acid, TfOH) as the solvent at room temperature for 1-24 h gives rise to 5-arylmethylfurfurals (yields of 17-91%) and 2-arylmethyl-5-(diarylmethyl)furans (yields of 10-37%). The formation of these two types of reaction products depends on the nucleophilicity of the arene. The same re...

Bulk chemicals from biomass

Given the current robust forces driving sustainable production, and available biomass conversion technologies, biomass-based routes are expected to make a signifi cant impact on the production of bulk chemicals within 10 years, and a huge impact within 20–30 years. In the Port of Rotterdam there is a clear shortterm (0–10 year) substitution potential of 10–15 % of fossil oil-based bulk chemical...

Synthesis of ketones from biomass-derived feedstock

Cyclohexanone and its derivatives are very important chemicals, which are currently produced mainly by oxidation of cyclohexane or alkylcyclohexane, hydrogenation of phenols, and alkylation of cyclohexanone. Here we report that bromide salt-modified Pd/C in H2O/CH2Cl2 can efficiently catalyse the transformation of aromatic ethers, which can be derived from biomass, to cyclohexanone and its deri...

Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass

Facile Chemical Access to Biologically Active Norcantharidin Derivatives from Biomass.

Reductive amination of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) was used to implement the transition from bio-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to pharmaceuticals. The synthesized bis(aminomethyl)furans were utilized as building blocks for the construction of new derivatives with structural cores of naturally occurring biologically active compounds. Using the one-pot procedure, which included the Diels-Alde...