Chemsuschem Chemistry And Sustainability, Energy & Materials 2012-12-01

Selective synthesis of 1-O-alkyl(poly)glycerol ethers by catalytic reductive alkylation of carboxylic acids with a recyclable catalytic system.

Marc Sutter, Wissam Dayoub, Estelle Métay, Yann Raoul, Marc Lemaire

Index: ChemSusChem 5(12) , 2397-409, (2012)

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Abstract

(Poly)glycerol monoethers were synthesized in good yield and selectivity by the catalytic reductive alkylation of glycerol, diglycerol, and triglycerol with readily available, cheap and/or bio-sourced carboxylic acids. The reaction was catalyzed by 1 mol % of Pd/C under 50 bar H(2) using an acid ion-exchange resin as a recyclable cocatalyst. The catalytic system was recycled several times, and a mechanism is proposed for this transformation.Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.