Nanoparticulate and microporous solid acid catalysts bearing aliphatic sulfonic acids for biomass conversion

Abstract

This work introduces new nanocatalytic systems based on microporous organic network (MON) chemistry for fructose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The efficiency of the catalytic systems could be improved through the size-controlled synthesis of MON materials. Through a predesigned building block approach and a post-synthetic modification, aliphatic sulfonic acid groups were incorporated into nano-sized MON materials to form N-MON-AS. The N-MON-AS showed selective conversion of fructose to HMF in up to 91% yield at 100 °C and good recyclability.