Solid-state hydrolysis of cellulose and methyl α- and β-d-glucopyranosides in presence of magnesium chloride

Solid-state hydrolysis proceeded with cellulose and methyl α- and β-d-glucopyranosides in the presence of hydrated magnesium chloride. This reaction was effective even at >100 °C since the hydrated water, which is held by MgCl2 up to >200 °C, is utilized as a nucleophile. Excess water made this reaction ineffective due to the competition between water and sugar oxygen atoms in coordinating with Mg2+, a Lewis acid. Consequently, this hydrolysis reaction is characteristic of solid-state reactions.