Renewable resources must be upgraded to platform chemicals and biofuels, especially furanic compounds such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (5-EMF), to meet the needs of a sustainable society. This review examines chemocatalytic approaches to 5-EMF via alcoholysis of 5-(halomethyl)furfural or etherification of 5-HMF with attention being given to direct catalytic conversion of biomass-derived materials into 5-EMF. Emphasis is placed on the reaction mechanisms and pathways with either homogeneous or heterogeneous catalysts to provide recommendations for catalytic system development. A multicriteria assessment evaluation tool as a sustainability assessment method for the synthesis of 5-EMF routes from biomass is given. Potential research directions include the direct synthesis of 5-EMF from biomass-derived compounds in innovative reaction systems and technoeconomic studies on 5-EMF production.
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