Influence of the reaction conditions on the nature of the hydrogen peroxide oxidation products of furfural

UV irradiation causes no acceleration of the oxidation of furfural by hydrogen peroxide but maintains its occurrence at a uniform rate. Both with UV irradiation and without it, the oxidation of furfural by hydrogen peroxide takes place via the formation of intermediate peroxide compounds, with their subsequent conversion mainly into a mixture of -formylacrylic, maleic, and succinic acids. The ratio between the acids depends on the reaction conditions. The possibility has been shown of a directed oxidation to -formylacrylic acid.