One-pot conversion of disaccharide into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural catalyzed by imidazole ionic liquid

Conversion of carbohydrate into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), a versatile, key renewable platform compound is regarded as an important transformation in biomass-derived carbohydrate chemistry. A variety of ILs, not only acidic but also alkaline ILs, were synthesized and used as catalyst in the production of 5-HMF from disaccharide. Several factors including reaction temperature, IL dosage, solvent and reaction time, were found to influence the yield of 5-HMF from cellobiose. Of the ILs tested, hydroxy-functionalized ionic liquid (IL), 1-hydroxyethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([AEMIM] BF4) showed the highest catalytic activity and selectivity. 5-HMF yield of 68.71% from sucrose was obtained after 6 hrs at 160 degrees C. At the same condition with cellobiose as substrate, 5-HMF yield was 24.73%. In addition, 5-HMF also exhibited good stablity in this reaction system. Moreover, a kinetic analysis was carried out in both acidic and alkaline IL-catalyzed system, suggesting main side reaction in the conversion of fructose catalyzed by acidic and alkaline IL was polymerization of fructose and 5-HMF degradation, respectively.