title: Carbodeoxygenation of biomass: the carbonylation of glycerol and higher polyols to monocarboxylic acids.
abstract: Glycerol is converted to a mixture of butyric and isobutyric acid by rhodium- or iridium-catalysed carbonylation using HI as the co-catalyst. The initial reaction of glycerol with HI results in several intermediates that lead to isopropyl iodide, which upon carbonylation forms butyric and isobutyric acid. At low HI concentration, the intermediate allyl iodide undergoes carbonylation to give vinyl acetic acid and crotonic acid. Higher polyols C(n)H(n+2)(OH)(n) are carbonylated to the corresponding C(n+1) mono-carboxylic acids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coskun
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Conifer
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Stevenson
authors.forename: George J P
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Britovsek
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D020148:Butyric Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry; D058610:Isobutyrates / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012238:Rhodium / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D058610:Isobutyrates; D011108:Polymers; C024617:polyol; D020148:Butyric Acid; D007495:Iridium; C020380:isobutyric acid; D012238:Rhodium; D005990:Glycerol; D019342:Acetic Acid