A tunable process: catalytic transformation of renewable furfural with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of molecular oxygen

The tunable transformation of renewable furfural with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of O-2 is developed. Based on a nano Au catalyst and potassium carbonate, a 91.8% yield of methyl 2-furoate with 98.7% selectivity is obtained via the oxidative esterification in a furfural-methanol-O-2 system; while a 91.4% yield of 3-(furan-2-yl-)-2-methylacrylaldehyde with 97.2% selectivity is attained via the oxidative condensation in a furfural-n-propanol-O-2 system.