HPAs and POM‐based ILs Catalyzed Effective Conversion of Furfuryl Alcohol to Alkyl Levulinate.

Abstract: Here we represented the heteropoly acids (HPAs) and polyoxometalate (POM)‐based ionic liquids (ILs) catalyzed the effective alcoholysis of furfural alcohol (FAL) to alkyl levulinate. H5AlW12O40 exhibited the highest catalytic activity among HPAs, furnishing > 99 % FAL conversion and 80 % yield of butyl levulinate (BL). The incorporation of IL framework containing sulfate group into HPAs resulted in the enhanced catalytic performance. [MIMBS]5[AlW12O40] achieved the highest BL yield of 94 % and maintained a good catalytic activity after 6 times of recycle and reuse experiments. The effect of the Hammett acidity and structure of catalyst on the catalytic performance of HPAs and POM‐based ILs was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]