Transformation of monoterpenes and monoterpenoids using gold-based heterogeneous catalysts

Abstract

Gold is an attractive metal for using as catalyst because is very inert and resistant to air oxidation compared with other metals; furthermore, when gold is dispersed as nanoparticles onto a support it attains exceptional catalytic properties in organic reactions. Some heterogeneous gold catalysts have activity in the transformations of monoterpenes and monoterpenoids, natural organic compounds extracted from plants whose transformations produce substances with applications in fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, polymers and food industries. This review describes the achievements of some transformations of monoterpenes (α-pinene and limonene) and monoterpenoids (α-pinene epoxide, verbenol epoxide, myrtenol, nopol, perillyl alcohol, geraniol, nerol, carveol, citronellol, isoborneol, borneol, menthol, isopulegol, citronellal, carvone oxime and 2-adamantanol) reported from 2002 to 2018 through oxidation, hydrogenation, isomerization and amination over gold-based heterogeneous catalysts.