A hydrothermally stable ytterbium metal-organic framework as a bifunctional solid-acid catalyst for glucose conversion.

Yb-6(BDC)(7)(OH)(4)(H2O)(4) contains both bridging hydroxyls and metal-coordinated waters, possessing Bronsted and Lewis acid sites. The material crystallises from water at 200 degrees C. Using the solid as a heterogenous catalyst, glucose is converted into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, via fructose, with a total selectivity of similar to 70% after 24 hours at 140 degrees C in water alone: the material is recyclable with no loss of crystallinity.