{
  "abstract": "Catalytic ester hydrogenation and Guerbet (dehydrative alcohol coupling) processes can be combined to allow for the one-pot production of β-methyl branched alcohols directly from methyl esters. A variety of ruthenium-based catalysts were tested in the individual steps using methyl propanoate as a model substrate; [RuHCl(CO)(Ph2PCH2CH2NHCH2CH2PPh2)] (1) was the most effective for ester hydrogenation and this catalyst also displayed activity for the production of isobutanol from n-propanol via Guerbet chemistry. Expanding this chemistry to triglyceride ester substrates or long chain fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) gives a direct route to biodiesel fuel molecules with potentially improved fuel performance at low temperature. Performance can be optimised by the inclusion of a second catalyst such as [RuCl2(Ph2PCH2PPh2)2] (2), specifically to enhance the Guerbet reaction. The system proves tolerant to the presence of olefin bonds and as such can be used to produce β-methylated alcohols directly from natural oils, with coconut oil as an exemplar.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Translational Research Hub, Maindy Road, Cardiff University Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK",
    "Applied Sciences, bp Innovation & Engineering, BP plc Saltend Hull UK"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 5,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ashley M. King"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Richard L. Wingad",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-8537-1884"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Gregory A. Price"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Glenn J. Sunley",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-6751-6886"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Duncan F. Wass",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0356-7067"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8c6p3m4gnajbg.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1039/d6cy00746e",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13728491/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "8c6p3m4gnajbg",
  "issns": [
    "2044-4753",
    "2044-4761"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728491",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Chemistry"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1604|Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Catalysis"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213248815",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": "PMC13728491",
  "pmid": "42978936",
  "published": "2026-09-16",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8c6p3m4gnajbg.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:46Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13728491",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728491"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-07T12:21:28Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13728491",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1039/d6cy00746e"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1604|Asymmetric Hydrogenation and Catalysis",
      "subfield": "inorganic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Tandem ester hydrogenation-Guerbet catalysis: conversion of triglyceride esters to β-methylated alcohols for synthetic fuels",
  "title_text": "Tandem ester hydrogenation-Guerbet catalysis: conversion of triglyceride esters to β-methylated alcohols for synthetic fuels",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:21:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/8c6p3m4gnajbg",
  "venue": "Catalysis science & technology",
  "versions": []
}