An integrated process for the production of 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran and its polymer from fructose

We report for the first time an integrated process for the selective production of 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF) from fructose via a two-step reaction in 1-butanol (BuOH). Fructose was initially dehydrated to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in >95% yield using Amberlyst-15, and the resulting solution was directly transformed into DHMF in >97% yield by liquid-phase hydrogenation over a Cu(50)–SiO2 nanocomposite. This nanocomposite catalyst was demonstrated to be highly stable, with no Cu leaching or catalyst deactivation observed. The obtained DHMF/BuOH mixture was then transformed successfully into poly(2,5-furandimethylene succinate) by reaction with succinic acid. Thus, from both environmental and industrial perspectives, this protocol is a novel and effective method for producing a biomass-derived polymer from fructose.