Catalytic oxidation of furan and hydrofuran compounds. 2. Oxidation of furfural in the hydrogen peroxide-vanadyl sulfate-sodium acetate system

Article abstract of DOI:10.1007/BF02252269

The characteristics of the oxidation of furfural in the hydrogen peroxide-VOSO₄-sodium acetate system and the composition of the products were studied. The principal stages of the reaction occur at pH ～7. The direction of the reaction is very different from the process in an acidic medium, where β-formylacrylic and maleic acids are mainly formed. The main oxidation products in the acetate buffer solution in the presence of VOSO₄ are succinic and β-formylpropionic acids and 2(5H)-furanone; without the catalyst the main product is 2-furancarboxylic acid. A mechanism is proposed for the transformations of furfural in the investigated system. 1998 Plenum Publishing Corporation.