Patent ID: 8236972
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: C07D

Abstract:
1. A process for enhancing molecular mass of biomass reactants comprising: a) forming a substituted or unsubstituted furfural from a biomass; b) reacting the substituted or unsubstituted furfural with an activated methylene compound comprising at least one electron withdrawing group in the presence of a catalyst to form a Knoevenagel product comprising a substituted furan compound comprising one or more electron-withdrawing groups and one or more carbon-carbon double bonds; wherein the activated methylene compound comprising at least one electron withdrawing group is selected from the group consisting of malononitrile, substituted or unsubstituted malonic acid or esters thereof, substituted or unsubstituted levulinic acid or esters thereof,and mixtures thereof, and c) hydrodeoxygenating the substituted or unsubstituted furan compound comprising one or more electron-withdrawing groups, or