Work

One-pot reduction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural via hydrogen transfer from supercritical methanol

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Catalytic conversion of HMF to valuable chemicals was achieved over a Cu-doped porous metal oxide in supercritical methanol. The hydrotalcite catalyst precursor is prepared following simple synthetic procedures, using inexpensive and earth-abundant starting materials in aqueous solutions. The hydrogen equivalents needed for the reductive deoxygenation of HMF originate from the solvent itself upon its reforming. Dimethylfuran, dimethyltetrahydrofuran and 2-hexanol were obtained in good yields. At milder reaction temperatures, a combined yield (DMF + DMTHF) of 58% was achieved. Notably, the formation of higher boiling side products and undesired char from HMF is not detected under these reaction conditions.

Source: Green Chemistry

DOI: 10.1039/c2gc35667h

Authors: Thomas S. Hansen, Katalin Barta, Paul T. Anastas, Peter C. Ford, Anders Riisager

Institutions: Yale University, Technical University of Denmark, University of California, Santa Barbara

Language: English

Topic: Catalysis for Biomass Conversion

Subfield: Catalysis

Field: Chemical Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Responsible consumption and production

Open Access status: green

Funders: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Højteknologifonden, Novozymes