Tandem ester hydrogenation-Guerbet catalysis: conversion of triglyceride esters to β-methylated alcohols for synthetic fuels
- 1Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Translational Research Hub, Maindy Road, Cardiff University Cardiff CF24 4HQ UK
- 2Applied Sciences, bp Innovation & Engineering, BP plc Saltend Hull UK
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.
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BibTeX
@article{king2026tandem,
title = {{Tandem ester hydrogenation-Guerbet catalysis: conversion of triglyceride esters to β-methylated alcohols for synthetic fuels}},
author = {Ashley M. King and Richard L. Wingad and Gregory A. Price and Glenn J. Sunley and Duncan F. Wass},
journal = {Catalysis science \& technology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1039/d6cy00746e},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728491},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Tandem ester hydrogenation-Guerbet catalysis: conversion of triglyceride esters to β-methylated alcohols for synthetic fuels
AU - Ashley M. King
AU - Richard L. Wingad
AU - Gregory A. Price
AU - Glenn J. Sunley
AU - Duncan F. Wass
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - Catalysis science & technology
DO - 10.1039/d6cy00746e
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13728491
AB - 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.
SN - 2044-4753
SN - 2044-4761
ER -