Efficient tunable approach for 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural and 2,5-diformylfuran production from fructose in DMSO with bromide catalysis

This work describes a simple method for the preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) by dehydrating fructose in DMSO, either with the use of an affordable catalyst or in a catalyst-free manner. This process can be accompanied, under harsh conditions, by the bromide-catalyzed Kornblum oxidation of the hydroxyl group by the solvent, resulting in the formation of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). The optimized techniques presented in this study can serve as a foundation for the production of valuable biobased furanic platform chemicals from renewable sources in any laboratory, stimulating the development of sustainable chemistry and research in related fields worldwide. [Display omitted] •Fructose heating in DMSO results in the furanose dehydration with high HMF yields.•Proposed techniques do not require sophisticate equipment or expensive reagents.•Byproduct formation can be minimized by volatiles releasing to the atmosphere.