Issue 19, 2017

Isosorbide synthesis from cellulose with an efficient and recyclable ruthenium catalyst

Abstract

Herein, we describe an efficient two-step pathway for isosorbide synthesis from cellulose with the use of new recyclable Ru-catalysts. We show that the oxidative and sulfonation treatments of the new Ru-catalysts increase the acidity and the hydrophilicity of the activated carbon support material, thus reducing the catalyst fouling caused by the build-up of insoluble products. Accordingly, the new Ru-catalysts are more resilient towards lignin containing cellulose than a commercial Ru/C catalyst, and the best Ru-catalyst maintains its high catalytic activity in four consecutive runs with dissolving pulp, microcrystalline cellulose and even with residual lignin containing bagasse pulp. Overall, our two-step approach provides isosorbide in high yields of 56–57 mol% (49–50 wt% of the substrate) from the cellulosic substrates.

Graphical abstract: Isosorbide synthesis from cellulose with an efficient and recyclable ruthenium catalyst

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Jun 2017
Accepted
10 Aga 2017
First published
10 Aga 2017

Green Chem., 2017,19, 4563-4570

Isosorbide synthesis from cellulose with an efficient and recyclable ruthenium catalyst

J. Keskiväli, S. Rautiainen, M. Heikkilä, T. T. T. Myllymäki, J. Karjalainen, K. Lagerblom, M. Kemell, M. Vehkamäki, K. Meinander and T. Repo, Green Chem., 2017, 19, 4563 DOI: 10.1039/C7GC01821E

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