Catalytic Transformation of Cellulose and Its Derivatives into Functionalized Organic Acids

article link: https://doi.org/10.1002/cssc.201800440

Cellulose is a promising renewable and abundant resource for the production of high-value chemicals, in particular organic oxygenates, because of its high O/C ratio. The sustainable production of hydroxyl carboxylic acids and dicarboxylic acids, such as gluconic/glucaric acid, lactic acid, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid, adipic acid and terephthalic acid, most of which are monomers of key polymers, have attracted much attention in recent years. The synthesis of these organic acids from cellulose generally involves several tandem reaction steps, and thus multifunctional catalysts that can catalyze selective activation of specific C-O or C-C bonds hold the key. This review highlights recent advances in the development of efficient catalytic systems and new strategies for the selective conversion of cellulose or its derived carbohydrates into functionalized organic acids. The reaction mechanism is discussed to offer deep insights into the regioselective cleavage of C-O or C-C bonds.

This is an invited Review article by Dr. David Smith, the Editor-in-Chief of ChemSusChem.