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 per- formance in catalytic conversion of cellulose. High yield of FA about 63.7% was obtained by using sulfonated iron（IlI） porphyrin as the catalyst and O2 as the oxidant. Iron（III）-peroxo species, TSPPFemOO , was involved to cleave the C--C bonds of gluconic acid to FA in this catalytic system. This approach used relatively high concen- tration of cellulose and ppm concentration of catalyst. This work may provide a bio-inspired route to efficient con- version of cellulose to FA.