Facile isomerization of glucose into fructose using anion-exchange resins in organic solvents and application to direct conversion of glucose into furan compounds

The facile isomerization of glucose into fructose has been developed using commercially available anion-exchange resins (AERs) in organic solvents. Following extensive screening for the amount and type of AERs, solvents and reaction time, glucose was transformed into fructose in yields of up to 50% using Amberlite A-26 with macroreticular morphology and tertiary amine functionality in a protic solvent (ethanol). AERs could be used five times without a significant loss of activity. This isomerization method could be applied to the direct conversion of glucose into furan compounds by integrating the dehydration of fructose with cation-exchange resins.