title: Selective preparation of monobenzyl glyceryl ethers by the condensation reaction of glycerol with benzyl alcohols in the presence of zeolite catalysts.
abstract: The selective preparation of monobenzyl glyceryl ethers, which are potential commodity chemicals with special functions, was explored to find new applications for glycerol. Among the acid catalysts investigated (sulfuric acid, heteropoly acid, Nafion(R), and zeolite), Zeolite Socony Mobil-5 (ZSM-5) afforded better results. The reaction of equimolar amounts of glycerol and benzyl alcohol at 150ºC for 7 h in the presence of 2 wt% ZSM-5 selectively afforded 3-(benzyloxy)propane-1,2-diol with a very small amount of the corresponding 2-benzyloxy isomer in 86% gas chromatography yield.
authors.affiliation: Oleochemical Research Laboratories, Research & Development Headquarters, Lion Corporation.
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Katsuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maeno
authors.forename: Araki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Masuyama
mesh_terms: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D005990:Glycerol / Q000737:chemistry*; D005995:Glyceryl Ethers / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D017641:Zeolites
chemical_list: D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D005995:Glyceryl Ethers; D017641:Zeolites; D005990:Glycerol