CONCENTRATED WATER SOLUTION OF SALTS AS SOLVENTS FOR REACTIONS OF CARBOHYDRATES .1. REACTIONS OF GLUCOSE PROMOTED BY CONCENTRATED-SOLUTIONS OF ALKALINE AND ALKALINE-EARTH METAL-SALTS

Saturated water solutions of selected alkaline and alkaline earth metal salts have been studied whether or not they catalyze the formation of levulinic acid From glucose. The most active was a solution of magnesium chloride. Activity was further increased in the system (MgCl2+H+). We observed complete inhibition of this reaction by NO3-. Contrary to the generally accepted opinion that formation of hydroxymethylfurfural is only H+ catalyzed, we observed activity of the system formed from MgO and MgCl2 when one starts from glucose. (MgCl2+MgO) in water is alkaline.