This review describes the rapid evolution of chemistry in the context of a sustainable development of our society. Written in collaboration between scientists from different horizons, either from public organizations or chemical companies, we aim here at providing recommendations to accelerate the emergence of eco-designed products on the market.

2,5‐Diformylfuran (DFF) was obtained by heating a solution of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural in DMSO. The addition of acids or salts improved the selectivity, especially if bromides were employed. Good yields of DFF were obtained with HBr or NaBr as the catalyst. One‐pot procedures were developed from fructose, which led to DFF in medium yields. This transformation occurs through the formation of 5‐(bromomethyl)furan‐2‐carbaldehyde followed by a Kornblum‐type reaction. In the presence of bromide salts, the in situ formation of the catalyst involves the thermolysis of DMSO and the association of the resulting strong acids with the bromides.

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Direct and efficient preparation of pentyl and octyl b-D-xylosides and oligoxylosides has been achieved from xylans and n-pentanol or n-octanol in aqueous medium with xylanases. The method has been successfully applied with xylooligosaccharides produced from hydrothermally pretreated wheat bran to produce octyl oligoxylosides. The pentose-based surfactants thus obtained exhibit good surface properties compared to other alkyl glycosides. These molecules represent interesting candidates for the production of new green surfactants.

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Here we report the dissolution of cellulose in technical grade and renewably sourced-ILs.

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Ball milling of cellulose in the presence of a catalytic amount of H2SO4 was found to be a promising pre-treatment process to produce butyl glycosides in high yields. Conversely to the case of water, n-butanol has only a slight effect on the recrystallization of ball-milled cellulose. As a result, thorough depolymerization of cellulose prior the glycosylation step is no longer required, which is a pivotal aspect with respect to energy consumption. This process was successfully transposed to wheat straw from which butyl glycosides and xylosides were produced in good yields. Butyl glycosides and xylosides are important chemicals as they can be used as hydrotropes but also as intermediates in the production of valuable amphiphilic alkyl glycosides.