Ionic Liquid-Mediated Formation of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural-A Promising Biomass-Derived Building Block

Lignocellulosic biomass is composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The compositions of these materials vary, and their structures are very complex. Biomass requires many hydrolytic technologies and biological as well as chemical pretreatments to be reduced in size and have its physical structure opened. The aqueous processes are favored from an ecological point of view, but unfortunately, the selectivity to 5-HMF in water is usually low. Water is abundant and nonhazardous and is a proper solvent for monosaccharides and the product. The bromide and iodide are better leaving groups and nucleophiles than chloride, and for this reason they were more effective as ionic additives. The outstanding results for the IL-mediated conversion of microcrystalline cellulose into 5-HMF under mild conditions were presented by Chen and co-workers.