Difuryl methanes

An adjunct to the understanding of this mechanism is the evidence obtained that polymerization of 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl) furan produces no 2,2,-difuryl methane or higher homologues (35). Analysis by thin-layer chromatography shows such resin having greater than 95% difunctional components (terminal hydroxymethyl groups) as compared to less than 50% for the resin from a conventional furfuryl alcohol polymerization (35). 

The parent calix[8]furan was formed in traces in a BF3 Et20 induced reaction of L3 25, difuryl methane and CH2(OMe)2 (94JCS(P1)2881). HCl induced cyclization of L4 9 (R = Me) with acetone gave Cg 31 in low yield along with major product C4 4 (85JCS(P1)973). The availability of Eg 9 (R = Me) (2001JCS(P1)3297) now could facilitate its formation. 

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