One-pot synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from glucose using bifunctional [Sn,Al]-Beta catalysts

The one-pot synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) from glucose was investigated, using [Sn,Al]-Beta catalysts prepared by a combination of partial dealumination and isomorphous substitution of Sn into the zeolite framework. The amount of Al in [Sn,Al]-Beta was adjusted by changing the concentration and acid treatment time, and the Sn content was varied by changing the SnCl4 vapor treatment time. [Sn,Al]-Beta contains framework Al-related Bronsted acid sites and tetrahedral Sn-related Lewis acid sites, and is therefore a bifunctional solid acid catalyst. The reaction parameters for the (Sn,Al]-Beta-catalyzed one-pot conversion of glucose to 5-HMF were optimized. [Sn,Al]-Beta with a suitable Sn/Al molar ratio gave a glucose conversion of 60.0% and 5-HMF selectivity of 62.1%. (C) 2015, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.