Expanding the boundary of biorefinery: long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals from biomass

Biomass is regarded as the largest renewable carbon resource on earth. Various biomass-based value-added chemicals, transportation fuels and carbon-based functional materials can be obtained through selective catalytic systems and reaction processes. The production of long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals from biomass as a relatively new direction in the field of biorefinery has received significant attention in recent years. The process of producing long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals involves two steps, namely CC coupling to long-chain intermediates and further transformation into long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals. In this perspective, we discuss the strategies for the production of long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals, with a focus on the transformation strategies of long-chain intermediates into long-chain heteroatom-containing chemicals. Finally, our insights into future recommendations in this promising field are provided.