One‐Pot, Solvent Free Synthesis of 2,5‐Furandicarboxylic Acid from Deep Eutectic Mixtures of Sugars as Mediated by Bifunctional Catalyst
Mahsa Niakan, Chao Qian, Shaodong Zhou
Abstract
Abstract Currently one‐pot conversion of sugars to 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is of significant interest due to the attainability of sugars as a feedstock and the enormous potential of FDCA as a bioplastic monomer. However, it remains challenging to construct efficient catalysts for this process. In this study, Co 3 O 4 species were anchored to a sulfonated covalent organic framework thus affording a bifunctional catalyst (Co 3 O 4 @COF‐SO 3 H). The sulfonic acid sites dehydrate sugars to 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which is next oxidized to FDCA as catalyzed by the Co 3 O 4 species. Such a process was applied in the conversion of various binary and ternary deep eutectic mixtures involving choline chloride and sugars without additional solvent. The maximum FDCA yield of 84 % was obtained using glucose‐fructose eutectic mixture as the substrates. Moreover, the catalyst was recyclable and stable under the applied reaction conditions. Our process eliminates the employment of organic solvents and expensive noble metal catalysts, resulting in green and economic biomass conversions.