Lewis Acid-catalyzed Conversion of Biomass-derived Dimethylfuran to p-Xylene

A renewable route to p-Xylene from biomass-derived dimethylfuran and ethylene is investigated with zeolite catalysts.  The capability of extra-framework cations in the zeolite framework– such as Na, Li, K, Ag, and Cu – in faujasites Y (Si/Al=40), Y (Si/Al=2.55) and X (Si/Al=1.25) to catalyze this reaction was investigated.