University of Minnesota

University of Massachusetts

University of Delaware

Limin Ren

Michael Tsapatsis

Paul J Dauenhauer

Raul Francisco Lobo

Wei Fan

Dae Sung Park

Charles S Spanjers

Hong Je Cho

Omar A Abdelrahman

Methods and phosphorus-containing solid catalysts for catalyzing dehydration of cyclic ethers (e.g., furans, such as 2,5-dimethylfuran) and alcohols (e.g., ethanol and isopropanol). The alcohols and cyclic ethers may be derived from biomass. One example includes a tandem Diels-Alder cycloaddition and dehydration of biomass-derived 2,5-dimethyl-furan and ethylene to renewable p-xylene. The phosphorus-containing solid catalysts are also active and selective for dehydration of alcohols to alkenes.

Phosphorus-containing solid catalysts and reactions catalyzed thereby, including synthesis of p-xylene

Forming a diene includes contacting a reactant including at least one of a cyclic ether and a diol with a heterogeneous acid catalyst to yield a reaction mixture including a diene. The heterogeneous acid catalyst includes at least one of a Lewis acid catalyst, a supported Lewis-acid catalyst, a Brnsted acid catalyst, a solid acid catalyst, a supported phosphoric acid catalyst, and a sulfonated catalyst. The dehydration of cyclic ethers and diols with high selectivity to yield dienes completes pathways for the production of dienes, such as isoprene and butadiene, from biomass in high yields, thereby promoting economical production of dienes from renewable resources.

Forming dienes from cyclic ethers and diols, including tetrahydrofuran and 2-methyl-1,4-butanediol

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Limin Ren