Chemicals from Biomass: Aerobic Oxidation of 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-Furaldehyde into Diformylfurane Catalyzed by Immobilized Vanadyl-Pyridine Complexes on Polymeric and Organofunctionalized Mesoporous Supports

Diformylfurane (DFF) has been obtained by aerobic oxidation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) with homogeneous pyridine-vanadyl complexes in homogeneous phase, with Cu and V in poly(4-vinylpyridine) crosslinked with 33% divinylbenzene (PVP) and supported on organofunctionalized SBA-15 mesoporous materials. Detailed spectroscopic characterization of the materials is provided. Catalytic results show that pyridine-vanadyl complexes supported on SBA-15 are less active than when in the polymeric form. The nature of the catalyst surface and solvent plays a key role on the catalytic behaviour.