Integration of Enzymatic and Heterogeneous Catalysis for One‐Pot Production of Fructose from Glucose

The search for efficient routes for the production of fructose from biomass‐derived glucose is of great interest and importance, as fructose is a highly attractive substrate in the conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels and chemicals. In this study, a one‐pot, multistep procedure involving enzyme‐catalyzed oxidation of glucose at C2 and Ni/C‐catalyzed hydrogenation of d‐glucosone at C1 selectively gives fructose in 77 % yield. Starting from upstream substrates such as α‐cellulose and starch, fructose was also generated with similar efficiency and selectivity by the combination of enzymatic and heterogeneous catalysis. This method constitutes a new means of preparing fructose from biomass‐derived substrates in an efficient fashion. Sugar gets sweeter: A one‐pot, multistep selective procedure involving enzyme‐catalyzed oxidation of glucose at C2 and Ni/C‐catalyzed hydrogenation of d‐glucosone at C1 gives fructose in 77 % yield. Fructose was also generated with similar efficiency and selectivity from α‐cellulose and starch by using this combination of enzymatic and heterogeneous catalysis.