Production of Hydroxyl–rich Acids from Xylose and Glucose Using Sn‐BEA Zeolite

Abstract Sn‐BEA zeolite is known to catalyze the aldose‐to‐ketose isomerization of xylose and glucose; however, the selectivity to pentose and hexose isomers is not stoichiometric, suggesting the formation of other products. In the present study, we have observed near‐complete conversion of all pentose and hexose isomers when xylose and glucose were reacted in the presence of Sn‐BEA at 140 °C and 200 °C, respectively. The previously unidentified products were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry to be hydroxyalkanoic acids and their derivatives. The hydroxyl‐rich acids comprise a significant fraction of the converted sugars and are potential monomers for the synthesis of hyper‐crosslinked, biodegradable polymers.