Nanoparticulate and microporous solid acid catalysts bearing aliphatic sulfonic acids for biomass conversion

This work introduces new nanocatalytic systems based on microporous organic network (MON) chemistry for fructose conversion to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The efficiency of the catalytic systems could be improved through the size-controlled synthesis of MON materials. Through a predesigned building block approach and a post-synthetic modification, aliphatic sulfonic acid groups were incorporated into nano-sized MON materials to form N-MON-AS. The N-MON-AS showed selective conversion of fructose to HMF in up to 91% yield at 100 °C and good recyclability.