Conversion of glucose into furans in the presence of AlCl3 in an ethanol-water solvent system

► AlCl3 based catalyst enables the conversion of glucose to furans in ethanol-water solvent system. ► The introduction of suitable amount of water improves the furans yield. ► Complex carbohydrates but not cellulose can also be converted to furans effectively. ► The decomposition of furans to levulinic acid and ethyl levulinate in this system was slow.