Glucose valorization
to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) remains
a challenging conversion that is highly relevant in the transition
toward a sustainable chemical industry. Lewis acidic tungstite is
a viable, moderately active catalyst for glucose upgrading to 5-HMF
but suffers from low surface area and weak Brønsted acidity.
A facile nontemplated sol–gel process produces a mesoporous
substoichiometric tungsten oxide with high surface area and Brønsted
acidity, and increased activity toward 5-HMF production. The material
is easily doped with early transition metals, which strongly modify
physico-chemical parameters such as the acidity and, accordingly,
the catalytic activity of the mesoporous oxide. Glucose was converted
to 5-HMF in H2O/THF mixtures using doped and undoped materials.
Kinetic parameters established by variation of the temperature and
reaction times show a strong dependence on the nature of the dopant
and pretreatment of the catalytic material.
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