(761g) Fructose Dehydration to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural Over Superhydrophobic-Oleophilic Mesoporous Polymeric Solid Acids in a Biphasic System

Novel and efficient mesoporous polydivinylbenzene (PDVB) based solid strong acid (PDVB-SO₃H-SO₂CF₃) has been successfully prepared by grafting of strong electron withdrawing group of SO₂CF₃ onto the network of performed mesoporous solid acid of PDVB-SO₃H, which could be synthesized from sulfonation of superhydrophobic mesoporous PDVB or copolymerization of DVB with sodium p-styrene sulfonate. N₂ isotherms showed that p-PDVB-SO₃H has large BET surface area and uniform mesopores. TGA curves and contact angle tests show that PDVB-SO₃H-SO₂CF₃ has large superior thermal stability, good hydrophobicity and oleophilicityCatalytic tests confirmed that p-PDVB-SO₂CF₃ showed much better catalytic activities and recyclability toward dehydration of fructose than those of H-form mesoporous ZMS-5 zeolite, carbon solid acid and acidic resin of Amberlyst 15,which will be very important for their wide applications for HMF production. HMF yields of  over 85% and 100% fructose conversion were obtained using this biphasic water/MIBK (Methyl isobutyl ketone) reactor system. The excellent catalytic activity and good recyclability of PDVB-SO₃H-SO₂CF₃ result from its unique characters such as large surface area, ultra strong acid strength, adjustable hydrophobic-oleophilic and stable network.