Cyclic organic carbonates from furanics: opportunities and challenges

Abstract Furanic compounds, such as furfural (FUR) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), are promising platform chemicals which can be derived from hemicellulose (FUR) and cellulose (HMF) contained in residual biomass. These compounds can be coupled with epichlorohydrin (derived from renewable-based glycerol) forming the corresponding mono- and bis-oxirane, which can then undergo CO2 insertion to form the corresponding cyclic organic carbonates (COCs). Although up to now, there are relatively few examples of COCs derived from furanics present in literature, these compounds are suitable for a wide range of synthetic and materials’ applications. Interestingly, the furan moiety can be further functionalised via Diels-Alder reactions, amplifying the range of applications of the resulting functional molecules and/or polymers while decreasing their toxicity.