Renewable carbon resource from biomass: building molecular architectures from furanic platforms

Abstract

Currently, we find ourselves with the urgent need for chemistry to exert a substantial positive influence on environmental impact, by means of products and chemical processes. To achieve these objectives, we must pay special attention in terms of resource sustainability, considering factors such as life cycle assessments and minimizing carbon footprints. Biomass obtained from organic matter found in plants as well as agricultural and industrial waste, represents the most abundant reserve of renewable materials on our planet. In this perspective we highlight the research and innovation possibilities provided by renewable raw materials obtained from biomass within the domain of organic synthesis toward sustainable development. We focus our discussion on different reactions in the field of organic chemistry, primarily employing furanic platforms as renewable compounds derived from cellulosic biomass. The main aim is to generate high-value products, with a special emphasis on potential development of new pharmaceuticals.