A hydrothermally stable ytterbium metal–organic framework as a bifunctional solid-acid catalyst for glucose conversion

Yb6(BDC)7(OH)4(H2O)4 contains both bridging hydroxyls and metal-coordinated waters, possessing Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. The material crystallises from water at 200 °C. Using the solid as a heterogenous catalyst, glucose is converted into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, via fructose, with a total selectivity of ∼70% after 24 hours at 140 °C in water alone: the material is recyclable with no loss of crystallinity.