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Tuning Selectivity in Terpene Chemistry: Selective Hydrogenation versus Cascade Reactions over Copper Catalysts
Author(s) -
Zaccheria F.,
Ravasio N.,
Fusi A.,
Rodondi M.,
Psaro R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
advanced synthesis and catalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.541
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1615-4169
pISSN - 1615-4150
DOI - 10.1002/adsc.200404351
Subject(s) - nerol , citronellol , chemistry , geraniol , citronellal , selectivity , catalysis , organic chemistry , copper , terpene , solvent , essential oil , chromatography
The selectivity of Cu/Al 2 O 3 under very mild catalytic hydrogenation conditions can be tuned only by switching the solvent. Geraniol can be converted in a one‐pot one‐step process into a mixture of citronellol and menthol in hydrocarbon solvents or reduced to citronellol with 98% selectivity in 2‐propanol without any additive. Both reactions can be applied to essential oils or synthetic mixtures containing geraniol, citronellal and nerol.