The development of catalytic processes for generating bio-based chemicals will require the emergence of new catalytic systems.  Given the excess oxygen present, acid catalyzed dehydration is an important reaction in producing bio-based chemicals.  The limited volatility of many biobased reactants necessitates that catalytic systems need to be developed that can operate in the aqueous phase.  Glucose conversion to 5-hydoxymethylfurfural using a combination of Br�nsted and Lewis acid catalysts will be discussed in which a key issue is the balance between Br�nsted and Lewis acidity.  Water compatible Lewis acid catalysts such as lanthanide chlorides were utilized to give respectable yields of HMF while being operated with less Br�nsted acid.  Also discussed will be the synthesis and characterization of sulfonated carbons, which have been proposed as hydrothermally stable solid Br�nsted acid catalysts.  The hydrothermal stability and solid state carbon NMR of sulfonated carbons synthesized using several strategies from carbohydrates will be shown.

Biobased chemicals: Acid catalysis in the aqueous phase

244th National Meeting (2012)

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