Selective catalytic chlorination: key strategic pathways for renewable resources functionalization to transition away from fossil fuels
- 1Cadi Ayyad University, UCA, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia Marrakech, Département de Chimie, Laboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire, Equipe de Chimie de Coordination et de Catalyse BP 2390 Marrakech 40001 Morocco
- 2Laboratoire des Sciences des Matériaux, Mathématiques et Environnement, Université Sultan Moulay Slimane, Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Khouribga BP 145 Khouribga 25000 Morocco
Abstract
Natural olefins, especially terpenic ones, are widely distributed in the plant kingdom as a renewable resource alternative to the petroleum-based hydrocarbon industry and a key strategic pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Their structural complexity allows for conversion into valuable intermediates for fine chemicals, flavors, fragrances, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. Precise functionalization methods are essential to transform these natural products into useful building blocks, notably through regioselective functionalization of biogenic alkenes. Among the pathways, selective chlorination of terpenic olefins has garnered special interest, employing various synthetic approaches using potential chlorinating agents. This reaction affords a range of chlorinated products with strong electrophilic character, particularly allylic and vinylic chlorides as highly reactive intermediates in organic synthesis for applications in agrochemicals, bioactive compounds, polymers and pharmaceuticals. It is a key pathway for the valorization of biomass-derived terpenes into chiral building blocks, contributing to the circular economy and sustainable chemistry. This is a thorough and up-to-date review on the selective chlorination reaction, outlining (i) the general chemistry of olefin chlorination and chlorinating agents, (ii) systematic comparison of catalytic chlorination pathways, particularly Lewis acid (e.g., MClx) and process heterogenization, (iii) explored mechanisms, (iv) scale-up challenges, future perspectives and potential applications of chlorinated compounds.
Related
- Chlorination‐Driven BODIPY Fluorescent Probes for the Selective Monitoring of Myeloperoxidase Activity in Cells and Inflamed Mouse Models
- Neutral photogenerated N-centred radicals as a general, catalytic direct hydrogen atom transfer platform for aliphatic C–H functionalization
- Recent advances in catalytic hydroconversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural: Strategic guidelines for achieving high yield of value-added chemicals
- Uranyl Tris(benzoate) Photocatalysts for Site-Selective Hydrocarbon Functionalization
- Functionalization of strong C(sp3)–H bonds in the presence of weak C(sp3)–H bonds enables the block-selective modification of thermoplastic elastomers
BibTeX
@article{mekkaoui2026selective,
title = {{Selective catalytic chlorination: key strategic pathways for renewable resources functionalization to transition away from fossil fuels}},
author = {Ayoub Abdelkader Mekkaoui and Salim Adam Labyad and Hamza Eljabbar and Soufiane El Houssame},
journal = {RSC Advances},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1039/d6ra07739k},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra07739k},
note = {CC BY-NC 3.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Selective catalytic chlorination: key strategic pathways for renewable resources functionalization to transition away from fossil fuels
AU - Ayoub Abdelkader Mekkaoui
AU - Salim Adam Labyad
AU - Hamza Eljabbar
AU - Soufiane El Houssame
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - RSC Advances
DO - 10.1039/d6ra07739k
UR - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6ra07739k
AB - Natural olefins, especially terpenic ones, are widely distributed in the plant kingdom as a renewable resource alternative to the petroleum-based hydrocarbon industry and a key strategic pathway toward net-zero emissions by 2050. Their structural complexity allows for conversion into valuable intermediates for fine chemicals, flavors, fragrances, pharmaceuticals and biofuels. Precise functionalization methods are essential to transform these natural products into useful building blocks, notably through regioselective functionalization of biogenic alkenes. Among the pathways, selective chlorination of terpenic olefins has garnered special interest, employing various synthetic approaches using potential chlorinating agents. This reaction affords a range of chlorinated products with strong electrophilic character, particularly allylic and vinylic chlorides as highly reactive intermediates in organic synthesis for applications in agrochemicals, bioactive compounds, polymers and pharmaceuticals. It is a key pathway for the valorization of biomass-derived terpenes into chiral building blocks, contributing to the circular economy and sustainable chemistry. This is a thorough and up-to-date review on the selective chlorination reaction, outlining (i) the general chemistry of olefin chlorination and chlorinating agents, (ii) systematic comparison of catalytic chlorination pathways, particularly Lewis acid (e.g., MClx) and process heterogenization, (iii) explored mechanisms, (iv) scale-up challenges, future perspectives and potential applications of chlorinated compounds.
SN - 2046-2069
ER -