5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a very important versatile platform compound derived from renewable biomass. The functionalized molecule with an aldehyde group, a hydroxyl group and a furan ring provides great potential for the production of a wide variety of valuable chemicals. This review highlights the latest advances in the catalytic conversion of HMF into value-added chemicals by some important reactions including (1) aerobic oxidation of HMF into furan-based aldehydes and acids such as 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA), 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF), and furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), (2) reductive amination of HMF to amine, (3) the synthesis of aromatics by Diels-alder reaction followed by a dehydration reaction, (4) catalytic reduction of HMF into 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), and 2,5-dimethyl furan (DMF), (5) catalytic oxidation of HMF into maleic anhydride, and some other important transformations. The review mainly focuses on the recent progress in bio-catalytic, electrocatalytic, and heterogeneous catalytic transformation of HMF into high value chemicals over the past few years. Moreover, an outlook is provided to highlight opportunities and challenges related to this hot research topic.
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