Yanlei Song

Efficient dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural catalyzed by the ionic liquid,1-hydroxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate.

The dehydration of fructose or glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) using room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) as a solvent is a promising method for producing liquid fuels from renewable resources. The IL, 1-hydroxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([C(2)OHMIM]BF(4)), was used a catalyst-rather than as a solvent-in the conversion of fructose or glucose to 5-HMF. With glucose, the yield of 5-HMF reached as high as 67.3% after 1h at 180°C in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent. The catalyst was separated from the reaction mixture by distilling solvent and reused six times without loss of activity. Furthermore, a kinetic analysis was carried out to illustrate the formation of 5-HMF, and the values of the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor for the reaction were 55.77 kJ mol(-1) and 1.6 × 10(4)min(-1) respectively.

Lactic acid production from glucose over polymer catalysts in aqueous alkaline solution under mild conditions

Methods for the transformation of carbohydrates into tactic acid (LA), which is a versatile platform chemical, have been widely investigated. These methods typically employ harsh reaction conditions, especially when water is used as a solvent. In the present study, a one-pot route that uses polymerizates of imidazole and epichlorohydrin ([IMEP]Cl) as catalysts to convert glucose to LA in water was described. The highest LA yield of 63% (mol%) was achieved with 99% glucose conversion at 100 degrees C in 50 mM NaOH solution. Compared to previous reports, the process has lower reaction temperatures and lower concentration of alkaline. A possible reaction mechanism was proposed that the coordination between the weak Lewis acid centers of the polymer with the electronegative oxygens on the intermediates efficiently facilitated the rate determining step during the reaction. This route allows for facile catalyst recovery and recycling white providing a new strategy for carbohydrate conversion.