cis-3-Penten-1-ol

Dehydra-Decyclization of 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran to Pentadienes on Boron-Containing Zeolites

Kumar G, Liu D, Xu D, et al
catalysis, 2020, 7(8): 9-10
Biomass-derived 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF) undergoes tandem ring-opening and dehydration (dehydra-decyclization) to linear pentadienes, namely 1,3-pentadiene and 1,4-pentadiene. It can also fragment to butenes and formaldehyde through a competing retro-Prins condensation pathway. Using detailed kinetic measurements of 2-MTHF dehydra-decyclization on zeolites with disparate acidities (boro-, and alumino-silicates) and micropore environments (MFI, MWW, and BEA), weakly acidic borosilicates were shown to exhibit ca. 10-30% higher selectivity to dienes at about five-to-sixty times lower prot...