Highly efficient synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with carbohydrates over renewable cyclopentanone-based acidic resin

For the first time, a renewable acidic resin which was prepared by one-step condensation/sulfation of sodium sulfite, cyclopentanone and formaldehyde followed by ion-exchanging was found to be a highly active and stable catalyst for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) by the dehydration of fructose and inulin.