Issue 2, 2024

Ruthenium catalyzed transformation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone in water

Abstract

High catalytic activity for selective and efficient transformation of levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) in water was achieved over (η6-p-cymene)Ru(II)-pyridylamine, [(η6-C10H14)RuCl(κ2-L)]+ (L = Namine-substituted pyridylamine ligands) based molecular catalysts. A series of complexes with pyridylamine ligands having different electronic and steric properties were synthesized and characterized. A significant influence of the Namine-substituents of the pyridylamine ligand on the catalytic activity was observed where the [(η6-p-cymene)RuCl(κ2-pyNHnpr)]+ catalyst ([Ru]-2) outperformed others with 87% yield and >99% selectivity for GVL at 80 °C in water. Advantageously, the activity of [Ru]-2 was also scaled up to gram scale transformation of LA to GVL. Control experiments, pH dependent NMR and mass studies revealed the involvement of crucial reaction intermediates and catalytic species in the transformation of LA to GVL.

Graphical abstract: Ruthenium catalyzed transformation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone in water

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Aug 2023
Accepted
30 Nov 2023
First published
01 Dec 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Sustain., 2024,2, 390-402

Ruthenium catalyzed transformation of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone in water

B. Priya, V. K. Sahu and S. K. Singh, RSC Sustain., 2024, 2, 390 DOI: 10.1039/D3SU00285C

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