Efficient Dehydration of Glucose, Sucrose, and Fructose to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Using Tri-cationic Ionic Liquids

Imidazolium predicated room temperature tri-cationic ionic liquid (RTILs) shows highly efficient and selective dehydration of fructose, sucrose, and glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The formation of 5-HMF has been investigated using different reaction parameters, such as catalyst weight, reaction time and temperature. Among different reaction parameters, 93% yield of 5-HMF was obtained from fructose in [GLY(mim)3][OMs]3 at 120 °C within 2 h, while 72% and 51% yield of 5-HMF were achieved from dehydration of sucrose, and glucose respectively at 120–140 °C in 3 h to 5 h. In addition, the effect of reaction time, molar ratio, and temperature with CC-SO3H co-catalyst have been discussed. In which, 97%, 77%, and 58% yield of 5-HMF were obtained from fructose, sucrose, and glucose, respectively, in the presence of [GLY(mim)3][Cl]3 and CC-SO3H catalyst at 130–140 °C within 3–5 h. Both catalytic systems showed excellent recyclability for carbohydrates to 5- HMF conversion without any loss in its catalytic activity.