Starch is available in large quantities and at cheap price, especially that from stale rice, root and tuber crops, etc. A metal-free approach to convert starch to 5-methylfurfural using HCl, NaI and H ₂ in a biphasic solvent system has been developed.

Efficient and highly selective production of propionic acid from biomass derived lactic acid was realized using I⁻/H₂ without adding other strong acids or metal catalysts.