Biocatalytic Hydrogenation of Biomass-Derived Furan Aldehydes to Alcohols
Zhi-Gang Zhang1, Xi Shen1, Shi-Kai Jiang1
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China.
Abstract:
The biomass-derived furan aldehydes furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are versatile platform chemicals used to produce various value-added chemicals through further valorization processes. Selectively reducing C═O in FF and HMF molecules to form furfuryl alcohol (FAL) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), represents an important research field in upgrading biomass-based furan compounds. Currently, the reduction of furan aldehydes to furan alcohols through chemical transformation often leads to unavoidable environmental issues and the formation of potential byproducts. Biocatalysis has demonstrated expanded applications in converting biomass-derived furan aldehydes into a diverse array of value-added chemicals. This process exhibits significant potential in organic synthesis and biotechnology due to its green and sustainable properties. The biocatalytic reduction of FF and HMF represents an especially important route for the selective synthesis of FAL and BHMF. This review discusses recent progress in the biosynthesis of FAL and BHMF from biomass-derived FF and HMF through biocatalytic processes. Recently discovered enzymes and whole cells used as biocatalysts for the production of furan alcohols are summarized. In addition, chemoenzymatic cascades for synthesizing furan alcohols from biomass hydrolysate and raw biomass materials are also discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Alkynes to Aldehydes and Ketones: Hydroboration-Oxidation
One of the convenient methods for the preparation of aldehydes and ketones is via hydration of alkynes. Hydroboration-oxidation of alkynes is an indirect hydration reaction in which an alkyne is treated with borane followed by oxidation with alkaline peroxide to form an enol that rapidly converts into an aldehyde or a ketone. Terminal alkynes form aldehydes, whereas internal alkynes give ketones as the final product.
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation


