High acidity cellulose sulfuric acid from sulfur trioxide: a highly efficient catalyst for the one step synthesis of xanthene and dihydroquinazolinone derivatives.

A cellulose sulfonate catalyst (HS-cellulose sulfonate) with high stability, excellent catalytic activity and high acidity value (about 1.55 mmol g) was successfully prepared by SO gas phase sulfonation. The basic morphology and nanostructure of the catalyst were determined by HRTEM, XRD, IR, TG, In addition, the catalyst was applied to the catalytic reaction of a dihydroquinazolinone derivative and a xanthene compound, and very valuable results were obtained. The development and preparation of cellulose sulfonate catalysts provide a good approach for the development and application of cellulose, and also an important application of green organic catalytic synthesis methodology.