Purolite-Catalyzed Etherification of 2,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)furan: A Systematic Study

Abstract

A library of biofuel candidates, 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl) furans (BAMFs), was prepared from 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF) by etherification in mild conditions using the acid catalyst Purolite. The purification of the BAMFs has been assessed, and gram-scale experiments have been carried out for two specific examples. The efficiency of this synthetic approach to BAMFs was ascribed to the BHMF-activated structure and its interaction with the aromatic acid catalyst.