REDUCTION OF HMF ETHERS WITH METAL CATALYST

摘要

This disclosure describes methods of reducing hydroxymethylfurfural ether and ester derivatives to produce, in the case of ethers, 5-(alkoxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2- methanol and (5-alkoxymethyl)-furan-2 -methanol derivatives, or in the case of esters, 5-(acyloxymethyl)- tetrahydrofuran-2 -methanol and 5-(acyloxymethyl)- furan-2- methanol derivatives. Exemplified methods describe purification thereof. In addition, the disclosure relates to n-alkoxy hexane diol compounds, which are derivative compounds useful for replacement of petroleum based carbitol compounds, and can be made by further reduction of the 5-(alkoxymethyl)-tetrahydrofuran-2- methanol and (5-alkoxymethyl)-furan-2-methanol derivatives. The compounds made by the methods of the present teaching are useful as solvents and as starting materials for making other compositions that meet the requirements of bio-based industrial chemicals from renewable resources.