Deciphering the Structure of Tungstate and Molybdate Complexes with Glucose, Mannose, and Erythrose
Combining nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-ray absorption spectroscopy near-edge structure (XANES), and density functional theory (DFT), we elucidate the structures of tungstate and molybdate with sugars of interest in the conversion of biomass to platform chemicals (glucose, mannose, and erythrose). We highlight a number of complexes, including one nearly isostructural structure that is formed with each metal–sugar combination. We also emphasize the singular reactivity of erythrose that undergoes retro-aldolization at room temperature.
Sabah El Mohammad, Sandrine Develle, Olivier Proux, Antonio Aguilar Tapia, Jean-Louis Hazemann, Christèle Legens, Céline Chizallet, and Kim Larnier