Silica-supported boric acid assisted conversion of mono-and poly-saccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquid

Silica-supported boric acid has been prepared and applied as heterogeneous catalyst for the direct conversion of inexpensive and biorenewable mono- and polysaccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic liquid under much milder conditions. Fructose, glucose, sucrose, inulin, and cellulose were successfully converted to HMF with moderate to excellent conversion. The catalyst and the solvent system can be recycled for up to four consecutive cycles without a significant loss in conversion.