Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 23, 2025

Optimization of the Ugi Reaction Using Parallel Synthesis and Automated Liquid Handling
Published on: November 11, 2008
Enhancing the conversion of ethyl levulinate to γ-valerolactone over Ru/UiO-66 by introducing sulfonic groups into
Jie Yang1, Wenjuan Huang1, Yongsheng Liu1
1School of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power Shanghai 200090 China yj_7667@aliyun.com.
Abstract:
The conversion of ethyl levulinate (EL) to γ-valerolactone (GVL) is an important reaction in biomass conversion. This process undergoes two consecutive reactions: hydrogenation and transesterification of the intermediate compound, i.e. ethyl 4-hydroxypentanoate, which are catalyzed by metal nanoparticles and acid sites, respectively. In this study, we explored the catalytic activity of Ru supported on metal organic frameworks aiming to develop efficient metal-acid bifunctional catalysts for this green process. UiO-66 and its analogues with various substituted groups (-SO3H, -NH2 and -NO2) were employed in this study. The Ru particle size, oxidation state and reducibility were characterized by TEM, H2-TPR, and XPS. The results suggest that the introduction of functional groups reduces the hydrogenation activity of pristine Ru/UiO-66 to various extents. Catalyst modified with -SO3H group shows much higher acidic catalytic performance while showing hydrogenation activity towards C[double bond, length as m-dash]O bonds, thus improving the overall transformation of EL to GVL due to the presence of strong Brønsted acid sites.
Related Concept Videos
Conversion of Alcohols to Alkyl Halides
Regioselective Formation of Enolates
Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones: Baeyer–Villiger Oxidation
The carbonyl center is...
Hydroboration-Oxidation of Alkenes
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Esters to Alcohols: Hydride Reductions
Lithium aluminum hydride is a source of hydride ions and functions as a nucleophile. The mechanism proceeds in three steps. Firstly, the nucleophilic hydride ion attacks the carbonyl carbon of the ester to form a tetrahedral intermediate. Subsequently, the carbonyl group re-forms,...

