Download PDF
Synlett 2014; 25(19): 2748-2752
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1379462
cluster
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Conversion of Levulinate Ester and Formic Acid into γ-Valerolactone Using a Homogeneous Iron Catalyst

Ming-Chen Fu
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(551)63606689   Email: fuyao@ustc.edu.cn
,
Rui Shang
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(551)63606689   Email: fuyao@ustc.edu.cn
,
Zheng Huang
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(551)63606689   Email: fuyao@ustc.edu.cn
,
Yao Fu*
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Biomass Clean Energy, Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, and Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, P. R. of China   Fax: +86(551)63606689   Email: fuyao@ustc.edu.cn
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 22 September 2014

Accepted after revision: 27 October 2014

Publication Date:
10 November 2014 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints All articles of this category


Abstract

An iron-catalyzed hydrogenation of biomass-derived ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) has been developed using formic acid as hydrogen source. Ethyl levulinate was converted into γ-valerolactone quantitatively under optimized reaction conditions. This catalytic process does not require the use of any base or additives.

Key words

biomass conversion - iron catalysis - formic acid - γ-valerolactone - levulinate ester

Supporting Information

    for this article is available online at http://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/journal/ 10.1055/s-00000083.
  • Supporting Information