Towards a Sustainable Synthesis of Oxymethylene Dimethyl Ether by Homogeneous Catalysis and Uptake of Molecular Formaldehyde. (3rd July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peter, Andreas; Fehr, Samuel M.; Dybbert, Valentin; Himmel, Daniel; Lindner, Ines; Jacob, Eberhard; Ouda, Mohamed; Schaadt, Achim; White, Robin J.; Scherer, Harald; Krossing, Ingo
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 130:Number 30(2018)
• Page Start: 9605
• Page End: 9608
• Publication Date: 2018-07-03
• Subjects: Homogene Katalyse -- Molekulares Formaldehyd -- NMR-Spektroskopie -- Oxymethylendimethylether -- Schwach koordinierende Anionen; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201802247
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: Oxymethylene dimethyl ethers (OME n ; CH3 (‐OCH2 ‐) n O‐CH3, n =3–5) are a novel class of sustainable synthetic fuels, which are of increasing interest due to their soot‐free combustion. Herein a novel anhydrous OME n synthesis route is presented. Catalyzed by trimethyloxonium salts, dimethoxymethane takes up monomeric gaseous formaldehyde instantaneously and forms high purity OME n at temperatures of 25–30 °C. This new anhydrous approach using molecular formaldehyde and catalytic amounts of highly active trimethyloxonium salts represents a promising new step towards a sustainable formation of OME n emanating from CO2 and H2 .