Rapid Conversion of Sorbitol to Isosorbide in Hydrophobic Ionic Liquids under Microwave Irradiation

Sorbitol was effectively converted to isosorbide by treatment with [TMPA][NTf2] in the presence of catalytic amounts of TsOH under microwave heating at 180 degrees C. The reaction completed within 10 min and isosorbide was isolated to about 60%. Ionic liquids were readily recovered by an extraction treatment and reused several times.