title: A Sustainable Route to a Terephthalic Acid Precursor.
abstract: A new synthetic pathway for the production of p-toluic acid has been developed starting from reagents derived from renewable resources. A Diels-Alder reaction between sorbic and acrylic acids is followed by a combined dehydrogenation/ decarboxylation process, providing p-toluic acid in high yields. This route permits to use milder conditions compared to other Diels-Alder approaches reported in the literature, and therefore can contribute to a more sustainable terephthalic acid production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Barbara
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Banella
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy. claudio.gioia2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gioia
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Micaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Martino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colonna
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celli
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Via Terracini 28, 40131, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gandini
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000737:chemistry; D001565:Benzoates / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D003653:Decarboxylation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000138:chemical synthesis*; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D001565:Benzoates; D010795:Phthalic Acids; C011363:terephthalic acid; D006859:Hydrogen; C009504:4-toluic acid; C036658:acrylic acid; D013011:Sorbic Acid
keywords: Diels-Alder; environmental chemistry; polymers; renewable resources; synthetic routes