One pot production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with high yield from cellulose by a Bronsted-Lewis-surfactant-combined heteropolyacid catalyst

A Bronsted-Lewis-surfactant-combined heteropolyacid (HPA) Cr[(DS)H2PW12O40](3) has been synthesized, and is used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the conversion of cellulose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in one pot within 2 h at 150 degrees C with 77.1% conversion and 52.7% yield. This micellar HPA catalyst shows stability and can be recycled by simple separation process.