Dehydration of Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Catalyzed by alkaline Ionic Liquid

The preparation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) through the dehydration of fructose with room temperature ionic liquids (ILs) has received much attention as a way of producing liquid fuels from renewable resources, but the cost of the process is considerably increased with IL as a solvent rather than as a catalyst. In this work, we have shown that the alkaline Ionic Liquid, 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hydroxide ([BMIM]OH), can be used as a catalyst in the conversion of fructose to 5-HMF. The maximum yield of 5-HMF was 91.6% at 160 degrees C after 8 h using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as solvent, and the ketose is more easily dehydrated than aldose in this catalyst system.