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 Bronsted 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. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.