Biomass conversion to high value chemicals: from furfural to chiral hydrofuroins in two steps.

Anzhelika Kabro, Eduardo C Escudero-Adán, Vladimir V Grushin, Piet W N M van Leeuwen

Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Av. Països Catalans 16, Tarragona 43007, Spain.

Organic letters 2012 Aug 3

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Catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of rac-furoin and furil produces hydrofuroin with up to 99% ee and 9:1 dr. This reaction provides an exceptionally easy access to optically active hydrofuroins in two straightforward steps from biomass-derived furfural (global production 200,000-300,000 t annually) using benzoin condensation.

Citation

Anzhelika Kabro, Eduardo C Escudero-Adán, Vladimir V Grushin, Piet W N M van Leeuwen. Biomass conversion to high value chemicals: from furfural to chiral hydrofuroins in two steps. Organic letters. 2012 Aug 3;14(15):4014-7