One-pot synthesis of isosorbide from cellulose or lignocellulosic biomass: a challenge?

The catalytic conversion of (ligno)cellulose is currently subject of intense research. Isosorbide is one of the interesting products that can be produced from (ligno)cellulose as it can be used for the synthesis of a wide range of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and polymers. Isosorbide is obtained after the hydrolysis of cellulose to glucose, followed by the hydrogenation of glucose to sorbitol that is then dehydrated to isosorbide. The one-pot process requires an acid and a hydrogenation catalyst. Several parameters are of importance during the direct conversion of (ligno)cellulose such as the acidity, the crystallinity and the particle size of cellulose as well as the nature of the feedstocks. This review highlights all these parameters and all the strategies employed to produce isosorbide from (ligno)cellulose in a one-pot process.