Production of high quality fuels from lignocellulose-derived chemicals: a convenient C–C bond formation of furfural, 5-methylfurfural and aromatic aldehyde

A new route of converting the whole of lignocellulose biomass derived molecules into high quality fuels was developed with C–C bond formation as the key step. The fuel precursors with 10–14 carbons could be easily obtained though direct self-coupling of furfural, 5-methyfurfural or aromatic aldehyde, the main components of lignocellulose, under mild conditions in water. After dehydration/hydrogenation, straight or branched alkanes with 8–14 carbons within diesel ranged fuels were obtained in moderate to high yield.