Dual-catalytic decarbonylation of fatty acid methyl esters to form olefins

Abstract

The homogeneous dehydrative decarbonylation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) to form olefins is reported. In order to facilitate cleavage of the unactivated acyl C-O bond of the alkyl ester, a one pot dual-catalytic directing group strategy was developed through optimization of the individual transesterification and decarbonylation reaction steps.