Abstract

Abstract As a renewable biomass-based compound with wide applications in food additives, fine chemical synthesis and fuels, γ-valerolactone (GVL) has attached much attention. While, pyrrolidones are widely used in pharmaceutical, agrochemical, material industrial and other chemical production. In this research, we demonstrated transformations of biomass-based ethyl levulinate (EL) into GVL and pyrrolidones by using heterogeneous catalysts (CNT-Ru-1) with N-heterocyclic carbene ruthenium (NHC-Ru) complex grafted on multi-walled carbon nanotube (CNT). The Ru catalyst showed high efficiency on EL hydrogenation to GVL with both EL conversion and GVL yield exceeding 99%. Moreover, the Ru catalyst readily promoted reductive amination of EL in the presence of various amines for pyrrolidone synthesis. Finally, the Ru catalyst was also applicable to hydrogenation of various carbonyl compounds for the synthesis of the corresponding alcohols with excellent catalytic performance. The research provides insight for heterogenizing the homogeneous noble metal-based catalysts with high catalytic active for biomass-based transformations.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.