Issue 4, 2010

Transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid under hydrothermal conditions catalyzed by sulfate as a temperature-switchable base

Abstract

It is demonstrated that transfer hydrogenation from formic acid to levulinic acid under hydrothermal conditions can be catalyzed by bases, but also by simple sodium sulfate. The action of salt addition could be clarified and ascribed to the changing dissociation constants at high temperature. This renders sulfate a temperature-switchable base in hydrothermal syntheses. Using such salts can help in preventing waste, as neutralization after reaction is not necessary. By optimizing the reaction conditions, the yield of γ-valerolactone, a sustainable biofuel molecule, could be raised to 12% for a simple passage through a capillary flow reactor with a residence time of less than 20 min.

Graphical abstract: Transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid under hydrothermal conditions catalyzed by sulfate as a temperature-switchable base

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
24 Nov 2009
Accepted
18 Jan 2010
First published
16 Feb 2010

Green Chem., 2010,12, 656-660

Transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid under hydrothermal conditions catalyzed by sulfate as a temperature-switchable base

D. Kopetzki and M. Antonietti, Green Chem., 2010, 12, 656 DOI: 10.1039/B924648G

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