Dehydration of d-fructose to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in DMSO using a hydrophilic sulfonated silica catalyst in a process promoted by microwave irradiation

SiO2-SO3H, with a surface area of 115 m(2)/g, pore volumes of 0.38 cm(3)g(-1) and 1.32 mmol H+/g, was used as a 10% w/w catalyst for the preparation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) from fructose. A conversion of 100% was achieved in a microwave reactor during 10 min at 150 degrees C in DMSO, with 100% selectivity for HMF, at a molar ratio of fructose: DMSO equal to 1:56. The catalyst could be re-used three times.

Automated summary

SiO2-SO3H catalyst with a surface area of 115 m(2)/g, used in a microwave reactor with DMSO at 150°C for 10 minutes, achieved 100% conversion and selectivity for HMF with a fructose:DMSO molar ratio of 1:56, and could be re-used three times.