- Inexpensive and tuneable protic ionic liquids based on sulfuric acid for the biphasic synthesis of alkyl levulinates
-
Alkyl levulinates are bio-derived chemicals, increasingly popular for their uses as solvents, additives and intermediates. However, efficient and recyclable catalysts for their synthesis are still the subject of intensive research. In this study, a wide range of alkyl levulinates was synthesized under mild conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure), using inexpensive and efficient Br?nsted acidic ionic liquids (ILs) based on sulfuric acid and off-the-shelf bases. Acidity of the ILs was closely related to their activity. The ILs could be easy separated and recycled, without significant changes in conversion or selectivity over 10 cycles (yields ca. 90–95%). Under optimized conditions, a 99% yield of pentyl levulinate (model reaction) was achieved. The method was demonstrated to be efficient in the synthesis of levulinates of C1-C16 linear, branched and cyclic alcohols. This innovative, green route to alkyl levulinates fits well within the sustainable development strategy.
- Chrobok, Anna,Gillner, Danuta,Matuszek, Karolina,Przypis, Marta,Swad?ba-Kwa?ny, Ma?gorzata
-
-
- Solvent-free transesterification of methyl levulinate and esterification of levulinic acid catalyzed by a homogeneous iron(III) dimer complex
-
Levulinic acid esters MeC(O)CH2CH2CO2R (LAE) are emerging bio-based chemicals used as solvents, additives and plasticizers. In this work a variety of levulinates (R= n-butyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, geranyl, 2-ethoxyethyl, benzyl, 2-octyl, cyclohexyl, menthyl) is obtained from the solvent-free transesterification of methyl levulinate (ML) and esterification of levulinic acid (LA), catalyzed by a dimeric complex of iron(III). The results are competitive with the few related reports of literature mainly based on heterogeneous catalysis. This first systematic study based on a homogeneous catalytic system therefore represents a significant extension within the field of biomass valorization.
- Melchiorre, Massimo,Amendola, Raffaele,Benessere, Vincenzo,Cucciolito, Maria E.,Ruffo, Francesco,Esposito, Roberto
-
-