HReO4 as highly efficient and selective catalyst for the conversion of carbohydrates into value added chemicals

Abstract

This work describes the first catalyst (HReO4) that promotes the efficient and selective conversion of several carbohydrates into four compounds, ethyl levulinate (EL), 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (LA), through a one-pot reaction strategy adjusting the reaction conditions. The reaction of fructose in ethanol at 160 °C gave EL in 80% yield after 16 h and in a mixture of ethanol/THF at 140 °C produced EMF in 73% yield after 1 h. HMF and LA can also be obtained selectively with 100% yield from fructose at 140 °C after 1 h, in DMSO or 1,4-dioxane, respectively. EL, HMF, LA and EMF were also produced in moderate to good yields from other carbohydrates such as inulin and sucrose. The catalyst HReO4 can be used in gram scale for the production of EL, EMF, HMF and LA with good yields and in at least 8 catalytic cycles on the conversion of fructose into EL with no significant reduction in its activity.