[Et3NH][HSO4] as an efficient and inexpensive ionic liquid catalyst for the scalable preparation of biorenewable chemicals

Abstract

Triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate (TEAHS) has been employed as an inexpensive protic ionic liquid catalyst for the preparation of various biomass-derived renewable compounds. TEAHS efficiently catalyzed the esterification of biomass-derived chemical intermediates such as levulinic acid, 2-furoic acid, stearic acid, and isosorbide. The scalable, cosolvent-free preparations were conducted in a batch-type glass pressure reactor, which provided excellent yields (> 80%) of the esters under moderate conditions. The TEAHS catalyst was conveniently separated from the reaction mixture and reused without significant loss of activity. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.