Efficient and Bio-inspired Conversion of Cellulose to Formic Acid Catalyzed by Metalloporphyrins in Alkaline Solution.

A bio-inspired approach for efficient conversion of cellulose to formic acid ( FA) was developed in an aqueous alkaline medium. Metalloporphyrins mimicking cytochrome P450 exhibit efficiently and selectively catalytic performance in catalytic conversion of cellulose. High yield of FA about 63.7% was obtained by using sulfonated iron( III) porphyrin as the catalyst and O₂ as the oxidant. Iron( III)-peroxo species, TSPPFe^IIIOO⁻, was involved to cleave the C-C bonds of gluconic acid to FA in this catalytic system. This approach used relatively high concentration of cellulose and ppm concentration of catalyst. This work may provide a bio-inspired route to efficient conversion of cellulose to FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]