Facile Synthesis of Optically-Active gamma-Valerolactone from Levulinic Acid and Its Esters Using a Heterogeneous Enantio-Selective Catalyst

摘要

Optically-active gamma-valerolactone was synthesized by the enantio-selective hydrogenations of levulinic acid and its esters. A tartaric acid-NaBr-modified nickel catalyst produced the optically-active gamma-valerolactone with a 60 enantiomeric excess (ee), almost quantitative conversion and chemoselectivity. The synthesis of the optically-active gamma-valerolactone using the enantio-selective heterogeneous catalyst would be promising for the large-scale industrial production from levulinic acid and its esters, which can be obtained by the acid-catalyzed dehydration of cellulosic fraction of biomass.