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Revisiting Gamma-Valerolactone-Based Solvent for Tandem Sugar-To-Furan Conversion: A Deconvoluted View of Solvent
Yingqing Li1, Xuebin Lu1,2, Yu Zhou1
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Gamma-Valerolactone (GVL) has emerged as a promising biomass-derived solvent for the catalytic conversion of sugars into furan chemicals such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural. Although GVL-based solvent systems have demonstrated superior performance, the mechanistic roles of GVL are often described qualitatively and remain insufficiently clarified. This review systematically synthesizes recent advances and organizes insights from the literature to elucidate the roles of GVL in sugar-to-furan conversion. The effects of GVL-based solvents are summarized into several interconnected aspects, including enhanced substrate solubility, regulation of reaction pathway selectivity, stabilization of key transition states, mediation of reactant enrichment, and facilitation of product separation. These insights highlight GVL as a multifunctional reaction medium rather than an inert solvent and provide guidance for the rational design of solvent systems for efficient biomass valorization.
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