2,5-Diformylfuran (2,5-DFF) is an important furan-based chemical with broad application potential. To address the difficulties in isolating/purifying the product and recycling the 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy (TEMPO)-based catalysts, we employed a solvent with a low boiling point in which TEMPO has a low solubility to investigate the effects of TEMPO and its analogs on catalyzing the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The results indicated that in ethyl acetate with the substitution of one H of TEMPO at the C4 position with either an acetamido (-NH-Ac), methoxy (-OCH3), hydroxy (-OH) or isothiocyanato (-N=C=S) group, the resulting compound had a product selectivity similar to that of TEMPO (> 86%), except for the 4-isothiocyanato-TEMPO-catalyzed reaction. However, after two Hs were substituted with an oxo group (=O), the catalytic efficiency significantly decreased (product yield 16%, selectivity 52%). Based on both the catalytic efficiency and catalyst solubility, a highly efficient method for preparing 2,5-DFF was established using ethyl acetate as the solvent, 4-acetamido-TEMPO as the catalyst and Fe(NO3)(3) and NaCl as cocatalysts. At 40 degrees C with a substrate concentration of 0.125 mol/L, 5-HMF was completely converted in 2 h, and the yield of 2,5-DFF was 89%. Moreover, when the substrate concentration increased to 0.25 mol/L, the yield of 2,5-DFF was 87%. When 4-acetamido-TEMPO was recovered by centrifugation, the product yield remained as high as 86% after three cycles, demonstrating good recyclability.