Patent ID: 8710250

Claim:
A method for the synthesis of an output consisting of one or more of: an ester of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid, an amide of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid, and a thioester of 5-methyl-2-furoic acid, from a precursor consisting of 5-methyl-furaldehyde with one hydrogen of the 5-methyl group replaced with one of chloride, fluoride, bromide, iodide, p-toluenesulfonate, methanesulfonate, trifluoroacetate, phenoxy, hydroxy, or ammonium, the method comprising: (a) contacting the precursor, a base, an organic solvent, a catalyst, and a reactive nucleophile in a reaction vessel at a temperature of from about −78 degrees C. to about 150 degrees C., such that molecules of the output are produced; (b) separating the molecules of the output by extraction with a hydrophobic solvent, or else by chromatography, distillation, sublimation, or precipitation; wherein the catalyst is one or more of: (1) a N-heterocyclic carbene, (2) a salt of a N-heterocyclic carbene, (3) cyanide, (4) chloride, (5) bromide, (6) iodide, (7) thiazolium, (8) 1,2,4-triazolium, (9) imidazolium, (10) tetrazolium ring system.