Cascade of liquid-phase catalytic transfer hydrogenation and etherification of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to potential biodiesel components over Lewis acid zeolites

We report a one-step process for the production of diesel fuel from biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The reaction proceeds through the sequential transfer hydrogenation and etherification of HMF to 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan, a potential biodiesel additive, catalyzed by a Lewis acid zeolite, such as Sn-Beta or Zr-Beta. An alcohol is used as a hydrogen donor and as a reactant in etherification. This cascade reaction can selectively produce high yields of the biodiesel additive (>80 % yield) from HMF with the Sn-Beta catalyst and secondary alcohols, such as 2-propanol and 2-butanol. Diesel addiction: Biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is converted to 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan, a potential biodiesel additive, through sequential transfer hydrogenation and etherification reactions catalyzed by a Lewis acid zeolite, such as Sn-Beta or Zr-Beta. Sn-Beta selectively produces high yields of the biodiesel additive (>80 % yield) with secondary alcohols, such as 2-propanol and 2-butanol, as hydrogen donors and as etherification agents.