Cooperative Brønsted-Lewis acid sites created by phosphotungstic acid encapsulated metal–organic frameworks for selective glucose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from biomass-derived glucose has great potential for synthesis renewable fuels and chemicals. Selective conversion to requires a balance between Lewis Brønsted acids the cascade isomerization followed by fructose dehydration. A dual Brønsted-Lewis acid, phosphotungstic acid encapsulated MIL-101(Al)–NH2 metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) was developed catalyze dehydration reaction. The catalysts had high HMF selectivity 58% at 44% 120 °C in [C4C1im]Cl. Phosphotungstic uniformly dispersed MOF pores, which provided both sites this acidic acid-encapsulated catalyst stable recyclable least four times. These findings explain effect location maximizing suggest new approach design bifunctional solid selective production glucose. Moreover, tunability properties provides opportunities other biomass transformations.