Abstract
Increasing interest in biomass valorization has triggered a worldwide search for new catalytic routes
to transform biomass-based derivatives in transportation fuels and valuable chemicals. It is anticipated
that in most cases more than one catalytic pathway can be followed for the synthesis of the desired end
products. One such example is the synthesis of octyl-ethers from biomass-based glycols, which can be
made either via the telomerization of 1,3-butadiene or the direct etherification of long linear alkenes. For
both processes active and selective catalysts have been developed in our groups and their activity and
selectivity have been investigated under solvent-free conditions. The telomerization of 1,3-butadiene
affords linear octyl-ethers with high yields (up to 80%) with a homogeneous Pd/TOMPP (TOMPP = Tris-(omethoxyphenyl)
phosphine) catalyst. For the direct etherification of glycols with 1-octene H-Beta zeolites
were found to be very promising heterogeneous catalysts to produce branched octyl-ethers with yields
up to 80%. In this work, a detailed account of the influence of catalyst properties and glycol structure is
given and the advantages and disadvantages of both catalytic routes are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 130-138 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Catalysis Today |
Volume | 158 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 5 Dec 2010 |
Keywords
- Telomerization
- Zeolites
- Etherification
- Alkyl ethers
- Glycols
- Biomass