Issue 1, 2020

Selective conversion of chitin to levulinic acid catalyzed by ionic liquids: distinctive effect of N-acetyl groups

Abstract

Selective and green conversion of chitin to levulinic acid (LA) has been realized by the catalysis of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-methyl-3-(3-sulfopropyl)imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([C3SO3Hmim]HSO4) up to a yield of 67.0%. The relationship between the structure of IL and the yield of LA was investigated, demonstrating that both acidity and the hydrogen bonding ability of IL dictate its catalytic activity. Furthermore, by means of NMR, IR, SEM, GPC analyses and determination of the degree of acetylation (DA), two approaches of deacetylation–depolymerization to glucosamine (GlcN) and direct depolymerization to N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) were proposed as chitin hydrolysis mechanisms, which occur only at the outer surface while leaving the interior crystalline chitin intact. The N-acetyl groups in chitin construct strong intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bond networks that contribute to the integration of the crystalline structure and building up of barriers to shield the accessibility of glycosidic linkages with the acidic catalyst.

Graphical abstract: Selective conversion of chitin to levulinic acid catalyzed by ionic liquids: distinctive effect of N-acetyl groups

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
30 Jul 2019
Accepted
21 Oct 2019
First published
21 Oct 2019

Green Chem., 2020,22, 62-70

Selective conversion of chitin to levulinic acid catalyzed by ionic liquids: distinctive effect of N-acetyl groups

W. Hou, Q. Zhao and L. Liu, Green Chem., 2020, 22, 62 DOI: 10.1039/C9GC02669J

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