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A Simple and Mild Approach for the Synthesis of p ‐Xylene from Bio‐Based 2,5‐Dimethyfuran by Using Metal Triflates
Author(s) -
Ni Lingli,
Xin Jiayu,
Dong Huixian,
Lu Xingmei,
Liu Xiaomin,
Zhang Suojiang
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201700020
Subject(s) - chemistry , selectivity , scandium , catalysis , imide , organic chemistry , xylene , trifluoromethanesulfonate , substrate (aquarium) , biomass (ecology) , combinatorial chemistry , toluene , oceanography , geology
Abstract The production of aromatic platform chemicals from biomass‐derived feedstocks is of considerable importance in biomass conversion. However, the development of effective routes with simple steps and under mild conditions is still challenging. In this work, we report an original route for the direct synthesis of p ‐xylene from 2,5‐dimethylfuran and acrylic acid catalyzed by scandium(III) triflate (Sc(OTf) 3 ) in 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([Emim]NTf 2 ) under mild conditions. An overall 63 % selectivity towards p ‐xylene and 78 % selectivity towards aromatics were obtained at 90 % conversion of 2,5‐dimethylfuran by enhancing the dehydration and introducing an extra one‐pot decarboxylation step. Furthermore, various dienes and dienophiles were employed as reactants to extend the substrate scope. The aromatic compounds were obtained in moderate yields, which proved the potential of the method to be a generic approach for the conversion of bio‐based furanics into renewable aromatics.