Biomass derived β-cyclodextrin-SO3H carbonaceous solid acid catalyst for catalytic conversion of carbohydrates to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

•β-Cyclodextrin derived carbonaceous catalyst was synthesized for the production of HMF.•Fructose gave 96%, while glucose gave 47% yield of HMF in DMSO with high selectivity.•Polysaccharides such as sucrose and inulin also gave about 85% and 92% yield of HMF.•The catalyst can be readily recovered and reused for at least three runs.

A new β-cyclodextrin-SO3H carbonaceous solid acid catalyst was synthesized in an ecofriendly manner and was found efficient for conversion of carbohydrates into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Numbers of different solvents systems were screened for efficient formation of HMF. The results showed that the β-cyclodextrin based-SO3H catalyst resulted in 96% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield from fructose while glucose gave a 47% HMF yield in DMSO in pretty good yields and high selectivity. Polysaccharides such as sucrose and inulin also gave about 85% and 92% yield of HMF. The catalyst was readily recovered and reused for atleast three runs without any significant impact on yields of products. The main advantages of this protocol include practical simplicity, high yields, recyclable catalyst, safety and cheapness of benign solvents.

Graphical abstractA new β-Cyclodextrin-SO3H carbonaceous solid acid catalyst was synthesized in an ecofriendly manner and was found efficient for conversion of carbohydrates into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Numbers of different solvents systems were screened for efficient formation of HMF. The results showed that the β-cyclodextrin based-SO3H catalyst resulted in 96% 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield from fructose while glucose gave a 47% HMF yield in DMSO which are pretty good yields with high selectivity. Polysaccharides such as sucrose and inulin also gave about 85% and 92% yield of HMF. The catalyst can be readily recovered and reused for atleast three runs without any significant impact on yields of products. The main advantage of this protocol includes clean reactions, practical simplicity, high yields, recyclable catalyst, safety and cost effective starting materials.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (100 K)Download as PowerPoint slide