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, TSPPFeIIIOO?, 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.