Electrochemistry for biofuel generation: production of furans by electrocatalytic hydrogenation of furfurals

The electrochemical conversion of furfural to 2-methylfuran (MF) and of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF) by means of a room-temperature electrocatalytic hydrogenation is presented. This is the first time that the electrochemical conversion of 5-HMF to 2,5-dimethylfuran is demonstrated, and it is the first time that the electrochemical conversion of furfural to methylfuran is achieved at high selectivity. The electrochemical hydrogenation may provide a path for the storage of electric energy into liquid organic fuels.