Catalytic decarbonylation of biomass-derived carboxylic acids as efficient route to commodity monomers

Abstract

The palladium-catalyzed decarbonylation of bio-derived carboxylic acids to alkyl acrylates, styrene, and acrylonitrile is reported. The olefins were isolated by continuous distillation in yields up to 87% by heating a neat, equimolar mixture of pivalic anhydride with the appropriate carboxylic acid to 190 °C in the presence of a Pd-phosphine catalyst. © 2012 The Royal Society of Chemistry.