The cobalt(II) phthalocyanine efficiently converts glucose and cellulose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in [EMIm]Cl ionic liquid. From various throughout screening of metal salts, metallophthalocyanines and ionic liquids, the combination of cobalt phthalocyanine with [EMIm]Cl ionic liquid gave the best results. Co(II)Pc interacts with glucose in [EMIm]Cl ionic liquid and in situ generates the Co(I)Pc and Co(III)Pc which are confirmed from UV-visible analysis. Co(III)Pc reacts with glucose and generates five membered ring chelate complex, which subsequently isomerizes to fructose. In the reaction fructose easily dehydrats to HMF. A single-pot EMF and DFF are produced by etherification and aerobic oxidation reaction of glucose, respectively. The catalyst is easily separated from the reaction by simple filteration and recycled upto 3-5 times without the significant loss of its catalytic activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.