TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The organic phase comprises a sugar-boronic acid complex. The sugar is a 6-carbon monosaccharide, 5-carbon monosaccharide, or a cellobiose. The IL or ILA phase has a pH of more than 9 or greater than or equal to 10, 11 or 12. The organic phase comprises an organic molecule that is immiscible with the IL and ILA solutions, and the organic molecule does not react with the boronic acid and the sugar. The IL is 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium alkanate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium alkylsulfate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium methylsulfonate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate, 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium thiocyanate, and 1-alkyl-3-alkylimidazolium halide, where an alkyl is an alkyl group comprising 1-10C, and an alkanate is an alkanate comprising 1-10C. The IL is 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIN acetate), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIN Cl), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (EMIM HOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate (EMIM MeOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate (EMIM EtOSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (EMIM MeSO3), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate (EMIM AlCl4), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate (EMIM SCN), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (BMIM acetate), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIM Cl), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIM HOSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (BMIM MeSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate (BMIM MeOSO3), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrachloroaluminate (BMIM AlCU), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate (BMIM SCN), 1-ethyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium ethylsulfate (EDIM EtOSO3), tris(2-hydroxyethyl)methylammonium methylsulfate (MTEOA MeOSO3), 1-methylimidazolium chloride (MIM Cl), 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (MIM HOSO3), 1,2,4-trimethylpyrazolium methylsulfate, tributylmethylammonium methylsulfate, choline acetate, or choline salicylate. The IL is present at 0-60. The boronic acid is of formula (R- alpha -B(OH)2) (I). The boronic acid is phenylboronic acid, 3,5-dimethylphenylboronic acid, 4-tert-butylphenylboronic acid, trans- beta -styreneboronic acid, or naphthalene-2-boronic acid. The stripping agent is an acid which decrease the pH of the organic phase. The IL or ILA solution comprises an ionic liquid (IL) and the sugar. The organic solution comprises the boronic acid. The organic solution further comprises an organic solvent which ensures the boronic acid is fully dissolved in the organic phase. The organic solvent is n-hexane and/or 1-octanol. The organic phase comprises a biomass comprising the sugar. The biomass is a cellulose biomass, hemicellulose biomass and/or ligno-cellulose biomass.alpha = bond, alkyl or 1-10C alkenyl, preferably -C=C-; andR = at least 1 aromatic ring (optionally substituted by 1-10C alkyl), preferably naphthalene.Preferred Method: The (d) separating step comprises adding a second IL, ILA, or aqueous solution comprising a stripping agent to the organic solution, such that the sugar-boronic acid complex dissociates and the sugar moves into the second IL, ILA or aqueous solution. The (a) providing step comprises contacting (i) an IL or ILA solution and an organic solution. The (b) contacting step comprises having the sugar and the boronic acid in the solution to essentially come to equilibrium. The (b) contacting step comprises increasing the contact between the sugar in the IL or ILA phase and the boronic acid in the organic phase. The (d) separating step further comprises separating the second IL, ILA, or aqueous solution from the organic phase. The method further comprises culturing a cell using the sugar obtained from the (d) separating step. EXAMPLE - No suitable example given.