A practical and concise homogeneous nickel catalyst for efficient solvent-free synthesis of γ-valerolactone. Issue 11 (21st May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zada, Bakht; Zhu, Rui; Wang, Bing; Liu, Jiao; Deng, Jin; Fu, Yao
• Is Part Of: Green chemistry. Volume 22:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: 3427
• Page End: 3432
• Publication Date: 2020-05-21
• Subjects: Environmental chemistry -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; 660
• DOI: 10.1039/d0gc00763c
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-9262

Abstract

Abstract : An inexpensive and readily available nickel-phosphine catalyst is used to efficiently catalyze the reduction of levulinic acid to produce γ-valerolactone and the catalyst cost only needs a few nickel coins (<0.1 $ per kg GVL). Abstract : Here, we report an inexpensive nickel-phosphine complex that can catalyse neat levulinic acid (LA) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) without additive at 1 atm H2, and the catalyst can be reduced to 0.01 mol% at 30 atm. 5.8 kg LA was successfully converted to GVL in a yield of 94% with 0.1 mol% catalyst. DFT calculations and in situ APXPS indicate that L–Ni + –H species are the key active intermediates.