Study on the Hydration of α-Pinene Catalyzed by α-Hydroxycarboxylic Acid–Boric Acid Composite Catalysts

In this study, seven types of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids were selected to form composite catalysts with boric acid, and their catalytic properties were studied using the catalytic hydration of α-pinene. The results showed that the composite catalyst of boric acid and tartaric acid had the highest cat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zhonglei Meng, Rongxiu Qin, Rusi Wen, Guiqing Li, Zhongyun Liang, Junkang Xie, Zhangqi Yang, Yonghong Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-04-01
Series:Molecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/7/3202
Description
Summary:In this study, seven types of α-hydroxycarboxylic acids were selected to form composite catalysts with boric acid, and their catalytic properties were studied using the catalytic hydration of α-pinene. The results showed that the composite catalyst of boric acid and tartaric acid had the highest catalytic activity. With an α-pinene, water, acetic acid, tartaric acid, and boric acid mass ratio of 10:10:25:0.5:0.4, the reaction temperature was 60 °C, the reaction time was 24 h, the conversion of α-pinene was 96.1%, and the selectivity of terpineol was 58.7%. The composite catalyst composed of boric acid and mandelic acid directly catalyzed the hydration of α-pinene in the absence of a solvent. Under the optimal conditions, the conversion of α-pinene reached 96.1%, and the selectivity of terpineol was 55.5%. When the composite catalyst catalyzed α-pinene to synthesize terpineol in one step, the terpineol was optically active, and terpineol synthesized using the two-step method with the dehydration of <i>p</i>-menthane-1,8-diol monohydrate was racemic. These composite catalysts may offer good application prospects in the synthesis of terpineol.
ISSN:1420-3049