One-step selective synthesis of branched 1-O-alkyl-glycerol/diglycerol monoethers by catalytic reductive alkylation of ketones

Abstract

Branched 1-O-alkyl glycerol and diglycerol monoethers were obtained in good yields and high selectivity by a straightforward catalytic reductive alkylation of glycerol with relevant ketones in the presence of 0.5 mol% of Pd/C under 10 bar of hydrogen pressure using a Brønsted acid as the co-catalyst. © 2010 Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.