Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether (CPME): A Versatile Eco-Friendly Solvent for Applications in Biotechnology and Biorefineries

The quest for sustainable solvents is currently a matter of intense research and development, as solvents significantly contribute heavily to the waste generated by chemical industries. Cyclopentyl methyl ether (CPME) is a promising eco-friendly solvent with valuable properties such as low peroxide formation rate, stability under basic and acidic conditions, and relatively high boiling point. This Review discusses the potential use of CPME for applications in biotechnology (e.g., biotransformations, as solvent or cosolvent), biorefineries, and bioeconomy (e.g., for furan synthesis or as an extractive agent in liquid-liquid separations), as well as for other purposes, such as chromatography or peptide synthesis. Although CPME is currently produced by petrochemical means with a remarkably high atom economy, its biogenic production can be envisaged from substrates such as cyclopentanol or cyclopentanone, which can be derived from furfural or from (bio-based) adipic acid, respectively. The combination of the promising properties of CPME as a (co)solvent with a future (economic) biogenic origin would be advantageous for setting strategies aligned with the sustainable chemistry principles.