Catalytic Conversion of Cellulose into Sugar Alcohols

Sweetly done: Pt or Ru catalysts supported on inorganic oxides show high activity for the conversion of cellulose into sugar alcohols (mainly sorbitol) in water under hydrogen pressure; furthermore, the catalysts can be recycled over repeated runs. Glucose is produced in low yields, thus suggesting that the Pt (or Ru)/oxide works as a bifunctional catalyst for the hydrolysis of cellulose and subsequent reduction to sugar alcohols. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http://www.wiley-vch.de/contents/jc_2002/2006/z601921_s.pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors.…