Zhang Zhi-Gang, Shen Xi, Jiang Shi-Kai, Lin Jia-Chun, Yi Yan, Ji Xiao-Jun
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China.
College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, China.
J Agric Food Chem. 2025 Jan 29;73(4):2266-2278. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c11258. Epub 2025 Jan 14.
The biomass-derived furan aldehydes furfural (FF) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) are versatile platform chemicals used to produce various value-added chemicals through further valorization processes. Selectively reducing C═O in FF and HMF molecules to form furfuryl alcohol (FAL) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF), represents an important research field in upgrading biomass-based furan compounds. Currently, the reduction of furan aldehydes to furan alcohols through chemical transformation often leads to unavoidable environmental issues and the formation of potential byproducts. Biocatalysis has demonstrated expanded applications in converting biomass-derived furan aldehydes into a diverse array of value-added chemicals. This process exhibits significant potential in organic synthesis and biotechnology due to its green and sustainable properties. The biocatalytic reduction of FF and HMF represents an especially important route for the selective synthesis of FAL and BHMF. This review discusses recent progress in the biosynthesis of FAL and BHMF from biomass-derived FF and HMF through biocatalytic processes. Recently discovered enzymes and whole cells used as biocatalysts for the production of furan alcohols are summarized. In addition, chemoenzymatic cascades for synthesizing furan alcohols from biomass hydrolysate and raw biomass materials are also discussed.
源自生物质的呋喃醛糠醛（FF）和5-羟甲基糠醛（HMF）是多功能平台化学品，可通过进一步的增值过程用于生产各种增值化学品。选择性地还原FF和HMF分子中的C═O以形成糠醇（FAL）和2,5-双（羟甲基）呋喃（BHMF），是生物质基呋喃化合物升级中的一个重要研究领域。目前，通过化学转化将呋喃醛还原为呋喃醇往往会导致不可避免的环境问题和潜在副产物的形成。生物催化在将源自生物质的呋喃醛转化为各种增值化学品方面已展现出广泛的应用。由于其绿色和可持续的特性，该过程在有机合成和生物技术中具有巨大潜力。FF和HMF的生物催化还原是选择性合成FAL和BHMF的一条特别重要的途径。本综述讨论了通过生物催化过程从生物质衍生的FF和HMF生物合成FAL和BHMF的最新进展。总结了最近发现的用作生产呋喃醇的生物催化剂的酶和全细胞。此外，还讨论了从生物质水解产物和原始生物质材料合成呋喃醇的化学酶级联反应。
