摘要
A novel method to utilize N-heterocyclic olefins (NHOs), the alkylidene derivatives of N-heterocycic carbenes, as organocatalysts to promote transesterification reactions has been developed. Because of their strong Bronsted/Lewis basicity, NHOs can enhance the nucleophilicity of alcohols for their acylation reactions with carboxylic esters. This transformation can be employed in industrially relevant processes such as the production of biodiesel, the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from plastic bottles for recycling purposes, and the ring-opening polymerization of cyclic esters to form biodegradable polymers such as polylactide (PLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL).
- 出版日期2016-5-6