Ruthenium-Catalyzed Synthesis of Cyclic and Linear Acetals via the Combined Utilisation of CO2, H2 and Biomass Derived Diols.

Abstract

Herein a transition metal catalyst system for the selective synthesis of cyclic and linear acetals from the combined utilisation of carbon dioxide, molecular hydrogen and biomass derived diols is presented. Detailed investigations on the substrate scope enabled to largely guide the selectivity of the reaction and demonstrated the possibility to integrate a broad variety of substrate molecules. This approach allowed to change between the favored formation of cyclic acetals and linear acetals, originating from the bridging of two diols with a carbon-dioxide based methylene unit. This new synthesis option paves the way to novel fuels, solvents or polymer building blocks, via the recently established bio-hybrid approach, by integrating renewable energy, carbon dioxide and biomass in a direct catalytic transformation.