In
recent years, 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran (DHMF), which can be
produced by the selective hydrogenation of biomass-derived 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
(HMF), has attracted great attention and interest of many scientists
because of its peculiar symmetrical structure and wide potential applications.
At present, studies of the production of DHMF are quickly progressing,
with productive approaches being increasingly developed, and many
crucial achievements have been continually obtained. However, to date,
a special and real-time review of this research area is still lacking.
To gain more insight into the current research situation, this review
comprehensively summarizes and discusses state-of-the-art advancements
of the production of DHMF from HMF via various chemocatalytic pathways,
such as conventional hydrogenation, transfer hydrogenation, electrocatalytic
hydrogenation, photocatalytic hydrogenation, disproportionation reaction,
and biocatalytic pathways. Meanwhile, this review also systematically
outlines the latest results on the further transformation of DHMF
into value-added derivatives via etherification, polymerization, and
rearrangement.