5-(Chloromethyl)furfural (CMF): A Platform for Transforming Cellulose into Commercial Products

5-(Chloromethyl)furfural (CMF) is a carbohydrate-derived platform molecule that is gaining traction as a more practical alternative to 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF). This perspective introduces the chemocatalytic approach to biorefining as the driving force behind the development of multifunctional chemical platforms. The main advantage of CMF over HMF is that it can be produced in high yield under mild conditions directly from raw biomass. Its stability and hydrophobicity markedly facilitate isolation. CMF is also a precursor to levulinic acid (LA), another versatile biobased intermediate. The logistics of CMF production are discussed, including reactor materials, HCl handling and management, byproducts, and the fate of collateral biomass components (hemicellulose, lipids, proteins, lignin). Examples of commercial markets that can be unlocked by synthetic manipulation of CMF are broken out into two derivative manifolds, furanic and levulinic, which are distributed over three product family trees: renewable monomers, fuels, and specialty chemicals. Selected examples of CMF- and LA-based routes to these products are presented. Finally, a model for the integration of the CMF process into biorefinery practice is put forward.