Catalytic Hydroconversion of 5-HMF to Value-Added Chemicals: Insights into the Role of Catalyst Properties and Feedstock Purity

5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is an important bio-derived platform molecule that is generally obtained from hexoses via acid-catalyzed dehydration. It can be effectively transformed into a variety of value-added derivatives, thus being an ideal candidate for fossil replacement. Both HMF oxidation and hydrogenation processes enable the synthesis of numerous chemicals, monomers for polymerization, and biofuel precursors. This Review summarizes the most recent advances in heterogeneous catalytic hydroconversion of HMF into valuable chemicals with strong focus on 2,5-bishydroxymethyl furan (BHMF), 2,5-bishydroxymethyltetrahydrofuran (BHMTHF), and 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF). In addition, multifunctional catalytic systems that enable a tunable production of various HMF derived intermediates are discussed. Within this chemistry, the surprising impact of HMF purity on the catalytic performance, such as selectivity and activity, during its upgrading is highlighted. Lastly, the remaining challenges in the field of HMF hydroconversion to the mentioned chemicals are summarized and discussed, taking into account the knowledge gain of catalyst properties and feedstock purity.