Carbonate-promoted carboxylation reactions for the synthesis of valuable organic compounds

1. A method for synthesizing furan-2, 5-dicarboxylate (FDCA 2− ), comprising:

providing furan-2-carboxylic acid;

providing a CO 3 2− salt to form a mixture, which converts the furan-2-carboxylic acid to furan-2-carboxylate;

providing a CO 2 gas to the mixture;

heating the mixture to a temperature to at least partially melt the furan-2-caboxylate.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , where the furan-2-carboxylic acid and more than one-half equivalent of CO 3 2− salt are combined to form the mixture of furan-2-carboxylate salt and CO 3 2− salt prior to heating under CO 2 .

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixture has Cs + cations.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixture has K + and Cs + cations.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mixture only has K + cations and further comprising providing an additional carboxylate salt with K + cations, to aid melting at a lower temperature.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , where the temperature is between 100° C. and 450° C.