An efficient and reusable "hairy" particle acid catalyst for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural from dehydration of fructose in water.

Poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) brush-grafted silica particles, synthesized by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization, were employed as a reusable acid catalyst for dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in water. The particles exhibited a high activity with the HMF yield of up to 31%, in contrast to 26% from the corresponding free homopolymer catalyst.