One-Pot Synthesis of 5-(Ethoxymethyl)furfural from Glucose Using Sn-BEA and Amberlyst Catalysts

Abstract

5-(Ethoxymethyl)furfural (EMF) was produced from glucose in ethanol in a single reactor at 90 °C. The reaction proceeds via the isomerization of glucose to fructose with zeolite Sn-Beta, a Lewis acid catalyst. Fructose is converted to 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, which is then etherified to EMF using a Brønsted acid catalyst, Amberlyst 131. An EMF yield of 31% was achieved.