Dehydration of cellulose to levoglucosenone using polar aprotic solvents

Abstract

Herein, we report an approach to produce levoglucosenone (LGO) from cellulose in yields up to 51% under mild reaction conditions (170–230 °C; 5–20 mM H₂SO₄) using polar, aprotic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF).