Novel Biobased Furanic Diols as Potential Alternatives to BPA: Synthesis and Endocrine Activity Screening

A series of asymmetric and symmetric diols were prepared in high yields from biomass-derived feedstocks 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and 2,5-diformyl furan (DFF) as potential replacements for bisphenol A (BPA). The diols were screened for estrogenic, androgenic, antiandrogenic, and antithyroid activities in reporter gene assays. Several of the low molecular weight asymmetric diols did not exhibit activity in any of the assays and thus have promise as potentially more sustainable alternatives to BPA.