One-Step Catalytic Transformation of Carbohydrates and Cellulosic Biomass to 2,5-Dimethyltetrahydrofuran for Liquid Fuels

Existing technologies to produce liquid fuels from biomass are typically energy intensive multistpe processes. Many of these processes use edible biomass as starting material. Carbohydrates, such as mono and polysaccharides and cellulose typically constitute 50-80% of plant biomass. Herein, we report that hexose from a wide range of biomass derived carbohydrates, cellulose and even raq lignocellulose (e.g., corn stover) can be converted into 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran (DMTHF) in one step, in good yields and under mild conditions in water. Under the same conditions 2 methyltetrahydrofuran is formed from pentose. The reaction emplyos a soluble rhodium catalyst, dihudrogen and HI/HCl + Nal. The catalytic sustem is robust and can be recycled repeatedly without loss of activity. DMTHF is superior to ethanol and has many of hte desirable properties currently found in typical pertoleum-derived transportation fuels.