Production of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
from Glucose
Using a Combination of Lewis and Brønsted Acid Catalysts in Water
in a Biphasic Reactor with an Alkylphenol Solvent
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Abstract
We report the catalytic conversion of glucose in high
yields (62%)
to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a versatile platform chemical. The
reaction system consists of a Lewis acid metal chloride (e.g., AlCl<sub>3</sub>) and a Brønsted acid (HCl) in a biphasic reactor consisting
of water and an alkylphenol compound (2-<i>sec</i>-butylphenol)
as the organic phase. The conversion of glucose in the presence of
Lewis and Brønsted acidity proceeds through a tandem pathway
involving isomerization of glucose to fructose, followed by dehydration
of fructose to HMF. The organic phase extracts 97% of the HMF produced,
while both acid catalysts remain in the aqueous phase
