Author: Chatzidimitriou, Anargyros; Bond, Jesse Q.
Description: Levulinic acid (LA) is a biomass-derived platform chemical that could play a central role in emerging industries as an intermediate that facilitates production of bio-based commodities. In this context, we present a novel, catalytic pathway for the synthesis of maleic anhydride (MA) via oxidative cleavage of the methyl carbon in LA over supported vanadates. The approach is demonstrated in a continuous flow, packed bed reactor, and we have observed that VOx supported on SiO2 achieves single-pass MA yields as high as 71%. Preliminary analysis suggests that LA might compete with butane as an industrial MA feedstock. Finally, bifunctional LA and monofunctional 2-pentanone display contrasting oxidative cleavage selectivities, indicating that methyl carbon cleavage during vapor phase oxidation over supported vanadates is unique to LA.
Subject headings: Levulinic acid; Synthesis; Maleic anhydride; Biochemicals
Publication year: 2015
Journal or book title: Green Chemistry
Volume: 17
Issue: 8
Pages: 4367-4376
Find the full text: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2015/gc/c5gc01000d
Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=7098016709274576323&as_sdt=400005&sciodt=0,14&hl=en
Serial number: 3426