N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a chemical widely used as solvent in several industrial applications. However, many studies and regulations, including REACH, have indicated NMP as a potential toxic agent. Therefore, functional substitutes with high marketability are actively sought. This paper reviews the methods reported in the literature for the sustainable synthesis of the 5-methyl-homologues of NMP. Focus is on liquid phase processes using heterogeneous catalysts and bio-derived feedstock, i.e. levulinates, since N-substituted-5-methyl-2-pyrrolidones (5 M Ps) are readily obtainable from them through one-pot reductive amination. The contributions appeared up to July 2018 are covered and discussed in terms of reaction mechanism, catalysts' properties and applicability.
Sustainable processes for the catalytic synthesis of safer chemical substitutes of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone
Liguori F;Barbaro P
2019
Abstract
N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is a chemical widely used as solvent in several industrial applications. However, many studies and regulations, including REACH, have indicated NMP as a potential toxic agent. Therefore, functional substitutes with high marketability are actively sought. This paper reviews the methods reported in the literature for the sustainable synthesis of the 5-methyl-homologues of NMP. Focus is on liquid phase processes using heterogeneous catalysts and bio-derived feedstock, i.e. levulinates, since N-substituted-5-methyl-2-pyrrolidones (5 M Ps) are readily obtainable from them through one-pot reductive amination. The contributions appeared up to July 2018 are covered and discussed in terms of reaction mechanism, catalysts' properties and applicability.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.