Inhibition of acid-catalyzed depolymerization of cellulose with boric acid in non-aqueous acidic media

Boric acid inhibited the acid-catalyzed depolymerization of cellulose in sulfolane, a non-aqueous medium, at high temperature. Formation of the dehydration products such as levoglucosenone, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural were also effectively inhibited. Similar inhibition was observed for cellooligosaccharides and starch, although the glucosidic bonds in methyl glucopyranosides and methyl cellobioside were cleaved to form α-d-glucofuranose cyclic 1,2:3,5-bisborate.

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