Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
40819 | Applied Catalysis A: General | 2012 | 8 Pages |
Metal halides (chlorides in particular) are employed almost exclusively as Lewis acid catalysts for the homogeneous conversion of glucose (or cellulose) to HMF (5-hydroxymethylfurfural) in ionic liquids (ILs), with CrCl2 being arguably the most effective benchmark catalyst. Reported herein is a discovery that ubiquitous aluminum alkyl or alkoxy compounds are very effective Lewis acid catalysts for the glucose-to-HMF conversion in ILs. Under the current reaction conditions (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [EMIM]Cl, 120 °C, 6 h), simple trialkyl and trialkoxy aluminum species such as AlEt3 and Al(OiPr)3, which are much cheaper than CrCl2 (by a factor of 5 for AlEt3 or 180 for Al(OiPr)3), are at least as effective as CrCl2 to catalyze this conversion process. The molecular structure of [EMIM]+[ClAlMe(BHT)2]−, formed upon mixing the alkylaryloxy aluminum MeAl(BHT)2 and the IL [EMIM]Cl, has been determined by X-ray diffraction; the structure simulates that of the metallate [EMIM]+[CrCl3]−, the proposed active species responsible for the effective glucose to HMF conversion by CrCl2 in [EMIM]Cl. Another significant finding is that a gradual substitution of the chloride ligand on aluminum by the alkyl ligand brings about a drastic enhancement on the HMF yield, from 1.6% by AlCl3 to 7.6% by MeAlCl2 to 17% by Et2AlCl and to 51% by AlEt3, thus showing approximately an overall 32-fold HMF yield enhancement going from AlCl3 to AlEt3.
Graphical abstractSimple, inexpensive aluminum alkyl or alkoxy compounds are effective catalysts for the glucose-to-HMF conversion in [EMIM]Cl, achieving ∼32-fold enhancement in HMF yield over the corresponding halide catalyst.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (218 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Glucose conversion into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic liquids. ► Inexpensive aluminum alkyls and alkoxides are as effective as the benchmark catalyst for the conversion. ► Simple aluminum alkyl and alkoxide catalysts are far more effective than aluminum chloride catalysts. ► Catalyst structure in an ionic liquid was characterized by X-ray diffraction.