Melamine-based porphyrin photosensitizer comprising sulphonic acid moieties for efficient aerobic oxidative acetalization of furfuryl alcohol: An access to octane booster under visible light

Furfuryl acetal has a pervasive significance in renewable energy resources that can be used as gasoline additives. In this protocol, oxidative acetalization of furfuryl alcohol was achieved by a novel melamine-based porphyrin photosensitizer comprising sulphonic acid (MPPsSA). The synthesized photocatalyst was scrutinized by XPS, NMR, FT-IR, and SEM/EDAX. The band gap (1.26 eV) and Hammett acidity (H0 = 0.987) of MPPsSA were determined by UV–Vis spectrophotometer. The photocatalyst was successfully employed for aerobic oxidative acetalization of furfuryl alcohols with alcohols (R-OH, R = C1-C6, C8) under irradiation of 5 W LED in a home-made photoreactor. All acetal derivatives were confirmed by 1H, 13C NMR, and GC–MS. Moreover, 2-(diethoxy methyl)furan exhibited octane booster with a 10% blend compared to commercial gasoline. The efficacy of the photocatalyst was sustainable up to sixth run and evidenced by FT-IR and FT-NMR. The gram scale acetalization, stability and recyclability of photocatalyst proven environmental benign protocol at ambient photocatalytic conditions.