Efficient hydrogenation of biomass-derived cyclic di-esters to 1,2-diols.
The unprecedented homogeneous hydrogenation of cyclic di-esters, in particular biomass-derived glycolide and lactide, to the corresponding 1,2-diols is catalyzed by Ru(II) PNN (1) and Ru(II) CNN (2) pincer complexes under mild hydrogen pressure and (in the case of 1) neutral conditions. No racemization was observed when a chiral di-ester was used.
Department of Organic Chemistry, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Ekambaram
E
Balaraman
Eran
E
Fogler
David
D
Milstein
D018533:Biomass; D002384:Catalysis; D004952:Esters; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D055772:Green Chemistry Technology / Q000379:methods*; D006865:Hydrogenation
D004952:Esters; D005990:Glycerol