Microwave-assisted catalytic upgrading of bio-based furfuryl alcohol to alkyl levulinate over commercial non-metal activated carbon

Versatile Coordination Polymer Catalyst for Acid Reactions Involving Biobased Heterocyclic Chemicals

The chemical valorization/repurposing of biomass-derived chemicals contributes to a biobased economy. Furfural (Fur) is a recognized platform chemical produced from renewable lignocellulosic biomass, and furfuryl alcohol (FA) is its most important application. The aromatic aldehydes Fur and benzaldehyde (Bza) are commonly found in the slate of compounds produced via biomass pyrolysis. On the other hand, glycerol (Gly) is a by-product of the industrial production of biodiesel, derived from fatty acid components of biomass. This work focuses on acid catalyzed routes of Fur, Bza, Gly and FA, using a versatile crystalline lamellar coordination polymer catalyst, namely [Gd(H4nmp)(H2O)2]Cl·2H2O (1) [H6nmp=nitrilotris(methylenephosphonic acid)] synthesized via an ecofriendly, relatively fast, mild microwave-assisted approach (in water, 70 °C/40 min). This is the first among crystalline coordination polymers or metal-organic framework type materials studied for the Fur/Gly and Bza/Gly reactions, giving heterobicyclic products of the type dioxolane and dioxane, and was also effective for the FA/ethanol reaction. 1 was stable and promoted the target catalytic reactions, selectively leading to heterobicyclic dioxane and dioxolane type products in the Fur/Gly and Bza/Gly reactions (up to 91% and 95% total yields respectively, at 90 °C/4 h), and, on the other hand, 2-(ethoxymethyl)furan and ethyl levulinate from heterocyclic FA.

Innovative Protocols in the Catalytic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been identified as one of the most promising biomass-based multi-purpose platform molecules. Innovative protocols, namely electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, and microwave (MW)-assisted chemistry, as well as continuous-flow systems, add a new dimension and another promising toolbox for the oxidation of HMF in recent years. This Minireview deals with recent progress in the catalytic oxidation of HMF to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and other intermediates using noble, non-noble, and metal-free systems deploying emerging protocols. Selective HMF downstream oxidation products could be obtained not only via common catalyst modifications, namely nature of the metal, preparative method, and the property of deployed support, but also by using innovative processes.

Recognizing soft templates as stimulators in multivariate modulation of tin phosphate and its application in catalysis for alkyl levulinate synthesis

Soft template tunes and controls explicitly both morphology and nature of active sites during the synthesis of tin phosphate catalyst. This synthesis strategy helped in producing alkyl levulinate in high yields from one-pot alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol.