Telomerisation of 1,3-butadiene with 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols: an atom-economic and selective synthesis of amphiphilic monoethers from agro-based diols

Synthesis of 1,4:3,6-dianhydrohexitols diesters from the palladium-catalyzed hydroesterification reaction

The hydroesterification of alpha olefins has been used to synthesize diesters from bio-based secondary diols: isosorbide, isomannide, and isoidide. The reaction was promoted by 0.2% palladium catalyst generated in situ from palladium acetate/triphenylphosphine/para-toluene sulfonic acid. Optimized reaction conditions allowed the selective synthesis of the diesters with high yields and the reaction conditions could be scaled up to the synthesis of hundred grams of diesters from isosorbide and 1-octene with solvent-free conditions.

Effect of chain unsaturation on the self-association of tri- and tetraethylene glycol octyl ethers obtained by butadiene telomerization

2,7-Octadienyl ethers of tri- and tetraethylene glycol (C(8:2)E(3) and C(8:2)E(4)) have been synthesized by the atom-economical butadiene telomerization of the corresponding poly(ethylene glycols). On one hand, this synthetic path is attractive because it is expeditious and environmentally benign, and on the other hand, it provides unconventional amphiphiles for which the lipophilic chains possess two double bonds. These two unsaturations increase the global hydrophilicity of the compound, which is also highlighted by the modelization of the compounds using the conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). The behavior of C(8:2)E(3) and C(8:2)E(4) in binary amphiphile/water and ternary amphiphile/oil/water systems is therefore greatly modified compared to that of the conventional fully saturated homologues (C(8)E(3) and C(8)E(4)) that are easily obtained after hydrogenation. This results in a lowered efficiency of the unsaturated compounds for oil solubilization. The usual Winsor-type microemulsion systems are formed, and for the same oil, the DLS investigation of the microstructure of the Winsor I microemulsion does not highlight any difference in the self-association between the unsaturated and saturated compounds.

Isosorbide as a renewable platform chemical for versatile applications--quo vadis?

Isosorbide is a platform chemical of considerable importance for the future replacement of fossil resource-based products. Applications as monomers and building blocks for new polymers and functional materials, new organic solvents, for medical and pharmaceutical applications, and even as fuels or fuel additives are conceivable. The conversion of isosorbide to valuable derivatives by functionalization or substitution of the hydroxyl groups is difficult because of the different configurations of the 2- and 5-positions and the resulting different reactivity and steric hindrance of the two hydroxyl groups. Although a substantial amount of work has been published using exclusively the endo or exo derivatives isomannide and isoidide, respectively, as starting material, a considerable effort is still necessary to transfer and adapt these methods for the efficient conversion of isosorbide. This Minireview deals with all aspects of isosorbide chemistry, which includes its production by catalytic processes, special properties, and chemical transformations for its utilization in biogenic polymers and other applications of interest.