Glucose, the monomer of cellulose, co-monomer of hemi-cellulose, and one of the components of sucrose, is one of the most important monosaccharides in the acid-catalyzed valorization of carbohydrates. Several pathways have been proposed for its conversion to 5-hydroxymethyl-furfural involving the isomerization of glucose to fructose, the transient formation of 3-deoxy-?-erythro-hexos-2-ulose or levoglucosenone, and the dehydration at the C-2 position followed by a ring contraction. Isotope labeling experiments have been used to establish the mechanism under specific reaction conditions. Similar mechanisms are operating for the conversion of xylose to furfural.

Mechanistic studies on the dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and xylose to furfural

245th National Meeting (2013)

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