Recent advances in the sustainable production of α,ω-C6 bifunctional compounds enabled by chemo-/biocatalysts

Abstract

α,ω-C6 bifunctional compounds play fundamental roles in the synthesis of a variety of value-added products including polymers, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, perfumes and so on. So far, these bifunctional compounds are mainly synthesized from petroleum-based raw materials by energy-intensive, multistage chemical reactions which are hazardous to the environment. Due to increasing environmental concerns, scientists and technologists have devoted unswerving efforts to develop new catalysts and novel routes for green and sustainable production of them. Herein, we review the recent progresses of the synthesis routes for four α,ω-C6 bifunctional compounds (6-hydroxyhexanoic acid, 6-aminocaproic acid, 1,6-hexanediol and 1,6-hexanediamine), with a focus on the routes involving green catalysts or renewable feedstocks in the past decade. This review not only provides insights for the current state of production of four α,ω-C6 bifunctional compounds, but also offers several perspectives for future research of further green and sustainable production of α,ω-C6 bifunctional compounds and related functional molecules.