New Pathways for the Valorization of Fatty Acid Esters

摘要

Biomass represents a major renewable carbon source and thus is increasingly important as a feedstock for the synthesis of fuels and chemicals. To achieve sustainable conversion of biogenic resources in the future, it is important to develop new selective catalytic reaction pathways. Olefin metathesis is one important tool in organic synthesis to convert unsaturated compounds while maintaining their functionalities. While classical heterogeneous catalysts are not capable of the transformation of such compounds, homogeneous ruthenium based catalysts seem suitable because of their high tolerance towards functional groups. In the following article we describe our investigations for the valorization of oleic acid methyl esters. Beyond the use as bio fuel there is an interest in adding the compounds value by conversion to base and fine chemicals. Therefore sustainable reaction paths have to be developed, in which innovative reaction media like supercritical fluids and ionic liquids are used for the establishment of a multiphase reaction system.