New approaches to producing polyols from biomass

Polyols are polymers that contain multiple hydroxyl groups in their structure. They are generally produced from petroleum derivatives and have a relevant commercial value as building blocks, intermediates in organic synthesis, or precursors for production of polyurethanes. New alternatives for green synthesis of polyols involve the substitution of some hazardous petrochemical derivatives by others based on biomass and which are safer and environmentally more benign. This mini‐review assesses the synthesis processes of some relevant biomass polyols, products that are becoming a commercial reality. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry