Synergistic Production of Methyl Lactate from Carbohydrates Using an Ionic Liquid Functionalized Sn‐Containing Catalyst

Considerable progress has been made recently in the catalytic conversion of renewable biomass resources to methyl lactate (MLA). However, conceiving eco-friendly and effective catalytic systems for the production of MLA from biomass carbohydrates remains a key challenge. Herein, we report a multifunctional catalyst Sn(salen)/IL, consisting of a Sn(salen) complex and an imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL), which acts via an intramolecular synergistic effect to convert carbohydrates to MLA in methanol. The versatile properties of the resultant catalyst were revealed to be responsible for the conversion of fructose to MLA and the efficient suppression of undesired side reactions. This catalyst displayed outstanding catalytic activity, high selectivity, and excellent recyclability, giving an MLA yield of up to 68.9% at 160 degrees C after 2h. The results of this study will contribute to new approaches for designing synergistic catalysts for producing liquid fuels and chemicals from biomass resources.