Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction

The upgrading of fatty alcohols synthesis from natural fatty acid methyl esters’ reduction using alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> without H<sub>2</sub> supply was investigated. It was possible to synthesize fatty alcohols efficiently with high yields. By using pure NaBH<...

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Main Authors: Alejandro Vallejo Orrego, Cristián A. Ferretti, Verónica K. Díez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Chemistry Proceedings
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4583/14/1/87
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author Alejandro Vallejo Orrego
Cristián A. Ferretti
Verónica K. Díez
author_facet Alejandro Vallejo Orrego
Cristián A. Ferretti
Verónica K. Díez
author_sort Alejandro Vallejo Orrego
collection DOAJ
description The upgrading of fatty alcohols synthesis from natural fatty acid methyl esters’ reduction using alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> without H<sub>2</sub> supply was investigated. It was possible to synthesize fatty alcohols efficiently with high yields. By using pure NaBH<sub>4</sub> or alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> and methanol as co-reactants, 100% selectivity towards fatty alcohols was achieved. The purpose of supporting the metal hydride is to increase its stability and ensure the recovery of the product at the end of the reaction. A high final fatty alcohol yield was obtained when alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> was used. The use of more than stoichiometric amounts of methanol and NaBH<sub>4</sub> is important to produce alkoxyborohydride anions that act as better reducing species than NaBH<sub>4</sub>. The reaction conditions effect was investigated and the role of short carbon chain alcohol structure was explained. The effect of fatty acid methyl ester structure was also examined. Saturated fatty acid methyl esters (methyl laurate, methyl myristate) with short carbon chains can be easily reduced using NaBH<sub>4</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and methanol, thus obtaining high conversion and selectable fuel alcohol. Unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester (methyl oleate) with longer carbon shows steric hindrance, which is not suitable for the interaction of esters and reduces the surface area, meaning that the conversion of fatty acid methyl ester is lower.
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spelling doaj-art-560e623e5b684b6599db7f3c421a5de42025-08-20T02:50:52ZengMDPI AGChemistry Proceedings2673-45832023-11-011418710.3390/ecsoc-27-16384Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ ReductionAlejandro Vallejo Orrego0Cristián A. Ferretti1Verónica K. Díez2Catalysis Science and Engineering Research Group (GICIC), Catalysis and Petrochemistry Research Institute (INCAPE) (UNL-CONICET), CCT CONICET, Santa Fe 3000, ArgentinaGroup of Organic Synthesis and Materials (GSOM), Laboratorio Fester—Organic Chemistry (FIQ), Institute of Applied Chemistry of the Litoral (IQAL) (UNL-CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe 3000, ArgentinaCatalysis Science and Engineering Research Group (GICIC), Catalysis and Petrochemistry Research Institute (INCAPE) (UNL-CONICET), CCT CONICET, Santa Fe 3000, ArgentinaThe upgrading of fatty alcohols synthesis from natural fatty acid methyl esters’ reduction using alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> without H<sub>2</sub> supply was investigated. It was possible to synthesize fatty alcohols efficiently with high yields. By using pure NaBH<sub>4</sub> or alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> and methanol as co-reactants, 100% selectivity towards fatty alcohols was achieved. The purpose of supporting the metal hydride is to increase its stability and ensure the recovery of the product at the end of the reaction. A high final fatty alcohol yield was obtained when alumina-supported NaBH<sub>4</sub> was used. The use of more than stoichiometric amounts of methanol and NaBH<sub>4</sub> is important to produce alkoxyborohydride anions that act as better reducing species than NaBH<sub>4</sub>. The reaction conditions effect was investigated and the role of short carbon chain alcohol structure was explained. The effect of fatty acid methyl ester structure was also examined. Saturated fatty acid methyl esters (methyl laurate, methyl myristate) with short carbon chains can be easily reduced using NaBH<sub>4</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and methanol, thus obtaining high conversion and selectable fuel alcohol. Unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester (methyl oleate) with longer carbon shows steric hindrance, which is not suitable for the interaction of esters and reduces the surface area, meaning that the conversion of fatty acid methyl ester is lower.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4583/14/1/87fatty alcoholsreduction reactionfatty acid methyl esters
spellingShingle Alejandro Vallejo Orrego
Cristián A. Ferretti
Verónica K. Díez
Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
Chemistry Proceedings
fatty alcohols
reduction reaction
fatty acid methyl esters
title Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
title_full Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
title_fullStr Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
title_full_unstemmed Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
title_short Selective Synthesis of Fatty Alcohols over Mild Reaction Conditions via Non-Catalytic Liquid-Phase Fatty Acid Methyl Esters’ Reduction
title_sort selective synthesis of fatty alcohols over mild reaction conditions via non catalytic liquid phase fatty acid methyl esters reduction
topic fatty alcohols
reduction reaction
fatty acid methyl esters
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4583/14/1/87
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AT cristianaferretti selectivesynthesisoffattyalcoholsovermildreactionconditionsvianoncatalyticliquidphasefattyacidmethylestersreduction
AT veronicakdiez selectivesynthesisoffattyalcoholsovermildreactionconditionsvianoncatalyticliquidphasefattyacidmethylestersreduction