Chemo-enzymatic protocol converts chitin into a nitrogen-containing furan derivative, 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran

In this study, efficient production of the platform chemical 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran (3A5AF) from chitin resources via a chemo-enzymatic protocol was investigated. Initially, chitinolytic enzyme was used to convert chitin into N-acetyl glucosamine (GlcNAc) using an affinity adsorption–enzymatic reaction integrated approach. Then, the obtained GlcNAc was used to produce 3A5AF using screened ammonium thiocyanate (NH₄SCN) as the catalyst. The optimal conditions for converting GlcNAc into 3A5AF were determined at a temperature of 180 °C, solvent of DMAc, a molar ratio of GlcNAc to NH₄SCN of 2:1, addition of CaCl₂·2H₂O, a molar ratio of GlcNAc to CaCl₂·2H₂O of 1:1 and a reaction time of 10 min, resulting in 3A5AF with a molar yield of 56.66%. The NH₄SCN showed good recyclability within five cycles. Furthermore, upon scaling up of the 3A5AF preparation, a good yield was still maintained. Additionally, 99% pure 3A5AF needle-shaped crystals were obtained with 34 wt% yield by crystallisation purification. This new chemo-enzymatic protocol provides a good option to convert chitin resources into 3A5AF.