Controlling the toxicity of biomass-derived difunctional molecules as potential pharmaceutical ingredients for specific activity toward microorganisms and mammalian cells

A biomass-derived difuran molecule can be converted to difunctional compounds by Diels–Alder reaction with N -substituted maleimides. Acid-catalyzed retro Diels–Alder reaction of difunctional compounds can promote the eradication of microorganisms.