Molecules 2011-01-01

From symmetric glycerol derivatives to dissymmetric chlorohydrins.

Carmen Solarte, Marc Escribà, Jordi Eras, Gemma Villorbina, Ramon Canela, Mercè Balcells

Index: Molecules 16(3) , 2065-74, (2011)

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Abstract

The anticipated worldwide increase in biodiesel production will result in an accumulation of glycerol for which there are insufficient conventional uses. The surplus of this by-product has increased rapidly during the last decade, prompting a search for new glycerol applications. We describe here the synthesis of dissymmetric chlorohydrin esters from symmetric 1,3-dichloro-2-propyl esters obtained from glycerol. We studied the influence of two solvents: 1,4-dioxane and 1-butanol and two bases: sodium carbonate and 1-butylimidazole, on the synthesis of dissymmetric chlorohydrin esters. In addition, we studied the influence of other bases (potassium and lithium carbonates) in the reaction using 1,4-dioxane as the solvent. The highest yield was obtained using 1,4-dioxane and sodium carbonate.