Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Cat waiting in the wings: The transient formation of Cr2+ dimers through coordination to a second molecule of the catalyst promotes the isomerization of glucose to fructose and explains the unique ability of CrCl2 to catalyze the dehydration of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic-liquid media. The active-site environment during the rate-controlling step resembles that in hexose isomerase enzymes.
Pidko et al. (Mon,) studied this question.