Catalytic oxidation of furan and hydrofuran compounds. 5. Hydroxy- and ethoxydihydrofurans and ethoxyfuran - New products from the reaction of furan with hydrogen peroxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02311323

It was established for the first time by chromato-mass spectrometry that 2-X-5-Y-2,5-dihydrofurans (X, Y = OH, OEt) and 2-ethoxyfuran are formed during the oxidation of furan by hydrogen peroxide in a mixture of water and ethanol in the presence of VOSO₄. Stable tautomeric forms of 2-hydroxy- and 2,5-dihydroxyfurans - 2(5H)-furanone and 5-ethoxy-2(5H)-furanone respectively - were isolated from the reaction mixture. A probable scheme for the main reaction paths is proposed. 1999 Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.