What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. reactions all happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required,
4. the reaction is completed in around 6 hours, and
5. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis $\ce{->}$ pyruvate decarboxylation $\ce{->}$ citric acid cycle $\ce{->}$ oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

Aside from a possible (retro-)synthetic approach, there might be a catalytic option. I've found this publication by Degering and Upson (1931) that describes iron pyrophosphate as a catalyst, but the reaction times are far higher (around 3 weeks), the temperature is relatively high and the reaction appears to be relatively messy in terms of products.

What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. all reactions happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required,
4. the reaction is completed in around 6 hours, and
5. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis → pyruvate decarboxylation → citric acid cycle → oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

Aside from a possible (retro-)synthetic approach, there might be a catalytic option. I've found a publication by Degering and Upson^* that describes iron pyrophosphate as a catalyst, but the reaction times are far higher (around 3 weeks), the temperature is relatively high and the reaction appears to be relatively messy in terms of products.

^* Edward F. Degering and Fred W. Upson, J. Biol. Chem. 1931, 94, 423-431. DOI: n/a; URL: http://www.jbc.org/content/94/2/423.short (pdf) (no https available)

What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. reactions all happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required,
4. the reaction is completed in around 6 hours, and
5. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis $\ce{->}$ pyruvate decarboxylation $\ce{->}$ citric acid cycle $\ce{->}$ oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

Aside from a possible (retro-)synthetic approach, there might be a catalytic option. I've found this publication by Degering and Upson (1931) that describes iron pyrophosphate as a catalyst, but the reaction times are far higher (around 3 weeks) and the reaction appears to be relatively messy in terms of products.

What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. reactions all happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required,
4. the reaction is completed in around 6 hours, and
5. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis $\ce{->}$ pyruvate decarboxylation $\ce{->}$ citric acid cycle $\ce{->}$ oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

Aside from a possible (retro-)synthetic approach, there might be a catalytic option. I've found this publication by Degering and Upson (1931) that describes iron pyrophosphate as a catalyst, but the reaction times are far higher (around 3 weeks), the temperature is relatively high and the reaction appears to be relatively messy in terms of products.

What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. reactions all happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required and
4. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis $\ce{->}$ pyruvate decarboxylation $\ce{->}$ citric acid cycle $\ce{->}$ oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

What is the simplest pathway from glucose to $\ce{H2O}$ and $\ce{CO2}$, such that

1. reactions all happen in aqueous solution with pH between 5 and 8,
2. temperature is in range between 0 and 35 °C,
3. no (expensive) enzymes are required,
4. the reaction is completed in around 6 hours, and
5. no toxic or harmful intermediates are formed and no toxic or harmful catalysts are used?

I realize that one possible answer to this would be, in biochemistry,

glycolysis $\ce{->}$ pyruvate decarboxylation $\ce{->}$ citric acid cycle $\ce{->}$ oxidative phosphorylation;

this is a fairly complex reaction cascade, however. Is there a way chemistry could simplify this in comparable (more or less physiological) conditions?

Aside from a possible (retro-)synthetic approach, there might be a catalytic option. I've found this publication by Degering and Upson (1931) that describes iron pyrophosphate as a catalyst, but the reaction times are far higher (around 3 weeks) and the reaction appears to be relatively messy in terms of products.