Separable fluorous ionic liquids for the dissolution and saccharification of cellulose

Abstract

Ionic liquids are an attractive class of solvents for biomass conversion processes. The same properties that make them advantageous—high polarity, water solubility and negligible vapor pressure—hinder their recovery from carbohydrates. We report on the synthesis of seven fluorous imidazolium chloride ionic liquids and on their ability to dissolve cellulose. One of these ionic liquids, 3-methyl-1-(2′,2′,3′,3′,3′-pentafluoropropyl)-imidazolium chloride, dissolves cellulose. We found this fluorous ionic liquid to be suitable for use in cellulose hydrolysis reactions, and we achieved its recovery from glucose.