Yadav, A.K.Bhat, N.S.Kaushik, S.Seikh, A.H.Dutta, S.2026-02-042024RSC Advances, 2024, 14, 5, pp. 3096-3103https://doi.org/10.1039/d3ra08505hhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/21327Fuel candidates containing both petroleum-derived and biomass-derived molecules in their structural motifs ensure both feedstocks are used optimally and coherently. This work reports a straightforward and efficient preparation of 5-(arylmethyl)furfurals (AMFFs), 2-(arylmethyl)furans (AMFs), and 2-(arylmethyl)-5-methylfurans (AMMFs) as hybrid biofuels (or fuel oxygenates) starting from carbohydrate-derived 5-(acetoxymethyl)furfural (AcMF) and petroleum-derived aromatic hydrocarbons. The AMFFs were prepared by Friedel-Crafts reaction between AcMF and aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., BTX, mesitylene) by employing anhydrous ZnCl<inf>2</inf> as the catalyst. AMFs were prepared by decarbonylation of AMFFs over the Pd(OAc)<inf>2</inf> catalyst under solvent-free conditions. In contrast, AMMFs were produced by hydrogenating AMFFs in methanol using gaseous hydrogen and the 10% Pd/C catalyst. The catalytic transformations were optimized on various parameters, and all the biofuel candidates were obtained in good to excellent isolated yields (>80%) under moderate conditions. © 2024 The Royal Society of Chemistry.AldehydesAluminum chlorideAromatic hydrocarbonsAromatizationBiofuelsFriedel-Crafts reactionFurfuralGasolineZinc chlorideCatalytic transformationDecarbonylationsFriedel-Craft reactionsFuel oxygenatesGaseous hydrogenIsolated yieldPd/C catalystSolvent free conditionsStructural motifs]+ catalystCatalysts