Zinc/Bismuth-Mediated Allylation Reaction of Biomass Feedstocks: Synthesis of Furanic Diols

Abstract Biomass-based diols have been synthesized by a Zn/Bi-mediated Barbier-type of reaction from furanic aldehydes and allyl halides to access allylated diols. The allylated diols can be readily converted into alkylated diols by hydrogenation. These furanic diols could be potential replacements for fossil fuel based bisphenol A (BPA) which has an adverse endocrine-disrupting effect on humans. This mild and green protocol provides symmetric and nonsymmetric diols in high yields. A chemoselective reduction of allylic double bonds provides diols with unique substitution.