Synthesis of 1,10-decanediol diacetate and 1-decanol acetate from furfural

Abstract

A green and efficient method was developed for upgrading furfural to 1,10-decanediol diacetate and 1-decanol acetate. 92% yield of the acetates was obtained through the tandem benzoin condensation and hydrodeoxygenation reaction. During the benzoin condensation, furfural was catalyzed into furoin in a quantitative yield by the immobilized NHC catalyst under solvent-free conditions. After dissolving the furoin intermediate in acetic acid, the Sc(OTf)₃ and Pd/C catalytic system was introduced for hydrodeoxygenation. The effects of reaction factors have been investigated in detail and the hydrodeoxygenation process has been explored by ¹H-NMR and GC-MS.