Revisiting the deoxydehydration of glycerol towards allyl alcohol under continuous-flow conditions

Abstract

The deoxydehydration (DODH) of glycerol towards allyl alcohol was revisited under continuous-flow conditions combining a microfluidic reactor setup and a unique reactive dynamic feed solution approach. Short reaction times, high yield and excellent selectivity were achieved at high temperature and moderate pressure in the presence of formic acid, triethyl orthoformate, or a combination of both. Triethyl orthoformate appeared as a superior reagent for the DODH of glycerol, with shorter reaction times, lower reaction temperatures and more robust conditions. In-line IR spectroscopy and computations provided different perspectives on the unique reactivity of glycerol O,O,O-orthoesters.