Continuous D-Fructose Dehydration to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural under Mild Conditions

The dehydration of d-fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was studied under single-phase conditions in the low boiling solvent 1,4-dioxane at moderate temperatures in the presence of the acid-catalyst Amberlyst-15. The reaction was first examined and optimized under batch conditions. Subsequently, the reaction was performed under continuous flow in a fixed bed reactor.