A simple one-pot dehydration process to convert N-acetyl-D-glucosamine into a nitrogen-containing compound, 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran.

An efficient process for converting N-acetyglucosamine (NAG) into 3-acetamido-5-acetylfuran (3A5AF) is reported. 3A5AF is proposed as an N-containing platform chemical, which contains renewable nitrogen. In the reported method NAG, in the presence of boric acid (B(OH)₃) and sodium chloride (NaCl), produces 58 % yield 3A5AF in dimethylacetamide under microwave irradiation (220 °C, 15 min).