Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid into γ‐Valerolactone using an Iron Pincer Complex

The search for nonprecious‐metal‐based catalysts for the synthesis of γ‐valerolactone (GVL) through hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its derivatives in an efficient fashion is of great interest and importance, as GVL is an important a sustainable liquid. We herein report a pincer iron complex tha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ChemSusChem 2018-05, Vol.11 (9), p.1474-1478
Main Authors: Yi, Yuxuan, Liu, Huiying, Xiao, Ling‐Ping, Wang, Bo, Song, Guoyong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Carbohydrates
Catalysis
Catalysts
Chemical industry
Chemical synthesis
Hydrogenation
Iron
Levulinic acid
pincer
γ-valerolactone
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Summary:The search for nonprecious‐metal‐based catalysts for the synthesis of γ‐valerolactone (GVL) through hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its derivatives in an efficient fashion is of great interest and importance, as GVL is an important a sustainable liquid. We herein report a pincer iron complex that can efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and methyl levulinate into GVL, achieving a turnover number of up to 23 000 and a turnover frequency of 1917 h−1. This iron‐based catalyst also enabled the formation of GVL from various biomass‐derived carbohydrates in aqueous solution, thus paving a new way toward a renewable chemical industry. Biomass valorization: An iron pincer complex can serve as an excellent catalyst for preparation of γ‐valerolactone through hydrogenation of levulinic acid and methyl levulinate, achieving high turnover numbers and turnover frequencies.
ISSN:1864-5631
1864-564X
DOI:10.1002/cssc.201800435