High-yield conversion of plant biomass into the key value-added feedstocks 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, levulinic acid, and levulinic esters via 5-(chloromethyl)furfural

5-(Hydroxymethyl)furfural, levulinic acid, ethyl levulinate and butyl levulinate are produced by the solvolysis of 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF). Since CMF can be derived in high yield from sugars, cellulose, or lignocellulosic feedstocks, the process described here presents an efficient entry into the value-added manifold of biomass-derived products of relevance to the organic materials and fuel industries.