Reaction of ketohexoses with acid in certain non‐aqueous sugar solvents

Ketohexoses or potential ketohexoses react rapidly with acids at high temperatures in non‐aqueous solvents (containing the grouping R·O·C·C·OH in their structures1) to produce 5‐hydroxymethyl‐furfural (HMF). HMF reacts further to give the solvent ether (e.g., II, III or IV) in a slow reaction. Several of these ethers have been reduced partially to mono‐ethers of 2,5‐di(hydroxymethyl)furan (V, VI or VII) and fully to mono‐ethers of 2,5‐di(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran (VIII, IX or X).