Tana Tana, Han Pengfei, Brock Aidan J, Mao Xin, Sarina Sarina, Waclawik Eric R, Du Aijun, Bottle Steven E, Zhu Huai-Yong
School of Mongolian Medicine, Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, Inner Mongolia, 028000, China.
School of Chemistry and Physics, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia.
Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 1;14(1):4609. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40090-7.
5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a valuable and essential platform chemical for establishing a sustainable, eco-friendly fine-chemical and pharmaceutical industry based on biomass. The cost-effective production of HMF from abundant C6 sugars requires mild reaction temperatures and efficient catalysts from naturally abundant materials. Herein, we report how fulvic acid forms complexes with Al ions that exhibit solar absorption and photocatalytic activity for glucose conversion to HMF in one-pot reaction, in good yield (~60%) and at moderate temperatures (80 °C). When using representative components of fulvic acid, catechol and pyrogallol as ligands, 70 and 67% HMF yields are achieved, respectively, at 70 °C. Al ions are not recognised as effective photocatalysts; however, complexing them with fulvic acid components as light antennas can create new functionality. This mechanism offers prospects for new green photocatalytic systems to synthesise a range of substances that have not previously been considered.
5-羟甲基糠醛（HMF）是建立基于生物质的可持续、生态友好型精细化工和制药行业的一种有价值且重要的平台化学品。从丰富的C6糖中经济高效地生产HMF需要温和的反应温度以及由天然丰富材料制成的高效催化剂。在此，我们报告了富里酸如何与铝离子形成配合物，这些配合物在一锅法反应中表现出太阳能吸收和光催化活性，能将葡萄糖转化为HMF，产率良好（约60%）且反应温度适中（80°C）。当使用富里酸的代表性成分儿茶酚和连苯三酚作为配体时，在70°C下分别实现了70%和67%的HMF产率。铝离子不被认为是有效的光催化剂；然而，将它们与作为光天线的富里酸成分络合可以创造新的功能。这种机制为新的绿色光催化系统合成一系列以前未被考虑的物质提供了前景。
