The conversion of biomass to a suite of chemicals will allow for greater financial stability for a biorefinery and greater use of field residues from farms resulting in increased farm income.  To that end, we have hydrogenated fructose to 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran in 50% yield using 5%Pt/Carbon poisoned with sulfur.  In the absence of the sulfur, the reaction gives hydrogenolysis products such as acetol and propanediol.  The selectivity toward DMTHF is increased four-fold by using aqueous ethanol as solvent.  Ethanol appears to stabilize fructose allowing for the hydrogenation before dehydration to HMF.  Detailed examination of the results suggest that the fructose is first ring-opened to 2,5-diketohexane which is further hydrogenated to 2,5-hexanediol, which ring closes to DMTHF.

Fructose hydrogenation to 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran over a sulfur-poisoned pt/c catalyst

248th National Meeting (2014)

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