Highly efficient catalytic activity of lanthanide(III) ions for conversion of saccharides to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural in organic solvents

All lanthanide(III) ions were found to catalyze dehydration of saccharides to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) in DMSO at 100 - 120 degrees C. Particularly, D-fructose was almost quantitatively converted to HMF without generating any byproducts. The results of the reaction with di- and trisaccharides indicated that the D-fructose moiety in the substrates was selectively converted to HMF.