Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Mei Chia

James Anthony Dumesic

David Martin Alonso

Thatcher W Root

Jesse Quentin Bond

Described is a method of making 2,4-diones via acid catalyzed or thermally induced ring-opening of a 4-hydroxy-6-substituted-2-pyrone to yield a 2,4-dione.

Production of 2,4-diones from 4-hydroxy-6-substituted-2-pyrones

Described is a method of making sorbic acid, pentadiene, or 3-penten-2-one. The method includes partially hydrogenating 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2-pyrone (HMP) to yield 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (4-DHMMP). Then, if 3-penten-2-one is desired, thermally decomposing the 4-DHMMP to yield 3-penten-2-one. If sorbic acid or pentadiene are desired, the 4-DHMMP is hydrogenated to yield 4-hydroxy-6-methyltetrahydro-2-pyrone (4-HMTHP). The 4-HMTHP is then dehydrated by contacting it with a solid acid catalyst to yield parasorbic acid (PSA). The PSA can then be ring-opened by contacting it with a solid acid catalyst. The reaction conditions of the ring-opening reaction can be controlled to yield sorbic acid and/or pentadiene.

Production of 2,4-hexadienoic acid and 1,3-pentadiene from 6-methyl-5,6-dihydro-2-pyrone

Described is a catalytic process for converting biomass to furan derivatives (e.g., furfural, furfuryl alcohol, etc.) using a biphasic reactor containing a reactive aqueous phase and an organic extracting phase containing an alkylphenol. The process provides a cost-effective route for producing furfural, furfuryl alcohol, levulinic acid hydroxymethylfurfural, &#x3b3;-valerolactone, and the like. The products formed are useful as value-added intermediates to produce polymers, as precursors to diesel fuel, and as fuel additives.

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Madison, WI, United States of America

Mei Chia