TL;DR: The major products from fructose in water at 250 degrees, (with and without acid catalysis) have been investigated on a time-resolved basis and analysis of the results was found to confirm the first hypothesis.
TL;DR: In this paper, the nature of different acid sites on the surface of various niobium-based catalysts has been spectroscopically investigated by means of FT-IR and UV-VIS techniques.
Abstract: The nature of different acid sites on the surface of various niobium-based catalysts has been spectroscopically investigated by means of FT-IR and UV–VIS techniques. Surface acidity has been further characterized by acetonitrile adsorption and subsequent FT-IR analysis. The catalytic activity of the different examined samples has been preliminarily tested in the fructose dehydration to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, a reaction of relevant industrial interest.
Abstract: Selective dehydration of different substrates, such as fructose, sucrose and inulin, to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde has been studied in aqueous medium by using heterogeneous niobium-based catalysts. Batch experiments have been performed in the presence of both commercial niobium phosphates and catalysts prepared by treatment of niobic acid with phosphoric acid. Flow experiments on catalyst packed beds have been also examined. Finally, batch catalytic experiments, characterized by combination of reaction and products extraction steps, have been also carried out.
TL;DR: An efficient regioselective method for the direct arylation of 2-furaldehyde to provide a range of pi-diverse 5-aryl-2-formylfuran derivatives is described.