Separable fluorous ionic liquids for the dissolution and saccharification of cellulose

Ionic liquids are an attractive class of solvents for biomass conversion processes. The same properties that make them advantageous-high polarity, water solubility and negligible vapor pressure-hinder their recovery from carbohydrates. We report on the synthesis of seven fluorous imidazolium chloride ionic liquids and on their ability to dissolve cellulose. One of these ionic liquids, 3-methyl-1-(2',2',3',3',3'-pentafluoropropyl)-imidazolium chloride, dissolves cellulose. We found this fluorous ionic liquid to be suitable for use in cellulose hydrolysis reactions, and we achieved its recovery from glucose.