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Greener, Recyclable, and Reusable Ruthenium(III) Chloride/Polyethylene Glycol/Water System for the Selective Hydrogenation of Biomass‐Derived Levulinic Acid to γ‐Valerolactone
Author(s) -
Patil Nilesh M.,
Bhanage Bhalchandra M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201600872
Subject(s) - levulinic acid , catalysis , chemistry , polyethylene glycol , selectivity , organic chemistry , peg ratio , phosphine , ruthenium , solvent , finance , economics
A versatile and efficient catalyst for the hydrogenation of biomass‐derived levulinic acid to γ‐valerolactone (GVL) by using a RuCl 3 /polyethylene glycol (PEG‐400) /H 2 O catalyst system was developed. The catalysis system was also found to be active for the hydrogenation of levulinate ester. The present protocol proceeded with 99 % conversion and 99 % selectivity towards GVL without the formation of any side products. Remarkably, the reaction did not require sensitive phosphine ligands, a base, additives, or a co‐catalyst to promote the reaction. This method involved the use of environmentally benign PEG‐400 and water as a solvent, which is nontoxic, inexpensive, commercially available, nonflammable, and easy to handle. The RuCl 3 /PEG‐400/H 2 O catalyst system could be easily recycled and reused six times with high activity and selectivity.