Preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural via fructose acetonides in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether

A new procedure for the preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) has been studied, in which 1,2:4,5-di-o-isopropylidene-ß-dtopyranose is dissolved in ethylene glycol dimethyl ether (EGDE) containing an appropriate amount of water and sulfuric acid as a catalyst. HMF yields were greater than 70 mol%. Data were obtained for several combinations of temperature and concentrations of acid and water at a reactant concentration of 0.5 M. Temperature and acid concentration influenced the catalytic activity, but had little effect on the yield of HMF. EGDE is a cheap and easily regenerable solvent which, in the acidic medium, does not generate by-products whilst HMF remains stable in it up to a temperature of 453 K. The reaction can be carried out in a continuous tubular reactor without the problem of plugging by insoluble solid humins