Highly Efficient Reductive Etherification of 5‐Hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5‐Bis(Alkoxymethyl)Furans as Biodiesel Components over Zr‐SBA Catalyst

Biomass‐derived di‐ethers, 2,5‐bis(alkoxymethyl)furans (BAMFs), are currently envisaged as promising biodiesel or additives. Herein, Zr‐SBA prepared by a urea hydrolysis method (Zr‐SBA‐UH) is used as a highly active bifunctional catalyst for the reductive etherification of 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and offers the 2,5‐bis(isopropoxymethyl)furan (BPMF) yield up to 93.6% using isopropanol as the solvent and hydrogen source. Zirconia is proved to be located mainly out of the mesoporous channels for Zr‐SBA‐UH, which leads to significant enhancement in the acid content of the catalyst, and then greatly promotes the catalytic performance of Zr‐SBA‐UH for the reductive etherification of HMF. The general soundness of Zr‐SBA‐UH in other monohydric alcohols is further confirmed in this contribution, guaranteeing that a family of BAMFs can be prepared by this catalytic system. In addition, Zr‐SBA‐UH is a robust catalyst that can be reused for at least five continuous runs without a significant loss of its catalytic activity.