Glycerol acetals with antioxidant properties

Abstract

Glycerol acetals were prepared from glycerol and aromatic aldehydes (benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, or furfural) using a solid acid (Amberlyst-15) catalyst. The acetals show promising antioxidant activity using the DPPH test with the glycerol/anisaldehyde acetal showing the best antioxidant properties, attributed to the additional radical stabilization by the electron-releasing methoxy group. The acetals formed have a wide range of potential industrial applications particularly enabling integration of the biodiesel manufacturing chain. © 2014 IUPAC & De Gruyter Berlin/Boston 2014.