Efficient route to hydroxymethylfurans from sugars via transfer hydrogenation

Abstract

Tandem catalysis, relying on formic acid as an acid catalyst and as a source of hydrogen, provides a promising route to highly pure furanylmethanols. The new approach exploits (i) the use of DMSO to mediate highly efficient routes to furfurals and (ii) the ability of transfer hydrogenation catalysts to effect the hydrogenation, with good tolerance for DMSO. © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.