Hexoses (glucose and fructose) are efficiently converted to a new C12 biorefining building block, 5,5'-dihydroxymethylfuroin (DHMF). This integrated process includes semi-continuous extraction of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from the reaction media of glucose or fructose dehydration in ionic liquids (ILs), and a subsequent step of HMF self-condensation to DHMF catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) in high yield. Both steps are carried out under relatively mild conditions (under ambient pressure at 60-120 �C), and the NHC catalyst is readily recyclable. As a new platform chemical, DHMF can be converted to oxygenated diesel fuels by hydrogenation, etherification, and esterification, or to premium alkane fuels through hydrodeoxygenation by metal-acid tandem catalysis. The highest alkane selectivity of 96% is achieved at 300 �C for 3 h in the presence of [Pt/C+TaOPO4], producing 27.0% C10 (n-decane), 22.9% C11 (n-undecane) and 45.6% C12 (n-dodecane). The polymerization of DHMF with comonomers into functional polymer materials will also be discussed.

Liquid fuels and sustainable polymers based on a new C<sub>12</sub> biorefining building block

247th National Meeting (2014)

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Liquid fuels and sustainable polymers based on a new C12 biorefining building block

Liquid fuels and sustainable polymers based on a new C₁₂ biorefining building block