A tunable process: catalytic transformation of renewable furfural with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of molecular oxygen

Abstract

The tunable transformation of renewable furfural with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of O₂ is developed. Based on a nano Au catalyst and potassium carbonate, a 91.8% yield of methyl 2-furoate with 98.7% selectivity is obtained via the oxidative esterification in a furfural–methanol–O₂ system; while a 91.4% yield of 3-(furan-2-yl-)-2-methylacrylaldehyde with 97.2% selectivity is attained via the oxidative condensation in a furfural–n-propanol–O₂ system.