Development of organocatalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols and aldehydes under continuous flow conditions aimed at producing renewable polymers from biomass.

• Grant number: 25/00904-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: September 30, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Leandro Helgueira de Andrade
• Grantee: Lara Gimenez Borges
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a promising renewable source for the production of high-value-added compounds. Among the products derived from this biomass, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) stands out as a key intermediate in the synthetic pathway to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a precursor to the sustainable polymer polyethylene furanoate (PEF). However, the synthesis of FDCA from HMF faces significant challenges, including low sustainability and unsatisfactory yields in many current methodologies. This project aims to develop a seleninic acid-based catalyst, combined with a novel synthetic strategy using continuous flow chemistry, focusing on the selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and subsequently to carboxylic acids. The objective is to establish a versatile and reproducible methodology, not only for the efficient conversion of HMF to FDCA but also for the selective oxidation of a wide range of alcohols and aldehydes. The proposal seeks to advance sustainable and high-yield processes in organic chemistry, with potential applications in various fields.