C12 aromatic triol-furoin and diol-furil from bio-based 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural : enhanced selective synthesis, scale-up and mechanistic insight into cyclic catalysis
In this study, we investigate the valorization of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF), a versatile and pivotal renewable C6 platform chemical, into a C12 heteroaromatic triol, 5,5′-bis(hydroxymethyl)furoin (DHMF), and a C12 heteroaromatic diol, 5,5′-bis(hydroxymethyl)furil (BHMF). The carboligation of 5-HMF to DHMF is catalyzed by an N-heterocyclic carbene, 1,3,4-triphenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-1,2,4-triaz