Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon
1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is an underrated bio-based synthon, with a broad range of reactivities. It is produced for the revalorization of glycerol, a major side-product of the growing biodiesel industry. The overwhelming majority of DHA produced worldwide is intended for application as a self-tann...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/6/2724 |
| _version_ | 1797609869991215104 |
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| author | Léo Bricotte Kamel Chougrani Valérie Alard Vincent Ladmiral Sylvain Caillol |
| author_facet | Léo Bricotte Kamel Chougrani Valérie Alard Vincent Ladmiral Sylvain Caillol |
| author_sort | Léo Bricotte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is an underrated bio-based synthon, with a broad range of reactivities. It is produced for the revalorization of glycerol, a major side-product of the growing biodiesel industry. The overwhelming majority of DHA produced worldwide is intended for application as a self-tanning agent in cosmetic formulations. This review provides an overview of the discovery, physical and chemical properties of DHA, and of its industrial production routes from glycerol. Microbial fermentation is the only industrial-scaled route but advances in electrooxidation and aerobic oxidation are also reported. This review focuses on the plurality of reactivities of DHA to help chemists interested in bio-based building blocks see the potential of DHA for this application. The handling of DHA is delicate as it can undergo dimerization as well as isomerization reactions in aqueous solutions at room temperature. DHA can also be involved in further side-reactions, yielding original side-products, as well as compounds of interest. If this peculiar reactivity was harnessed, DHA could help address current sustainability challenges encountered in the synthesis of speciality polymers, ranging from biocompatible polymers to innovative polymers with cutting-edge properties and improved biodegradability. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:07:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9ecfc681527e40d0ae8b2cdf3dddcb95 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:07:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-9ecfc681527e40d0ae8b2cdf3dddcb952023-11-17T12:54:32ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-03-01286272410.3390/molecules28062724Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based SynthonLéo Bricotte0Kamel Chougrani1Valérie Alard2Vincent Ladmiral3Sylvain Caillol4ICGM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, FranceLVMH Recherche, Département Innovation Matériaux, 45800 Saint Jean de Braye, FranceLVMH Recherche, Département Innovation Matériaux, 45800 Saint Jean de Braye, FranceICGM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, FranceICGM, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, Montpellier, France1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is an underrated bio-based synthon, with a broad range of reactivities. It is produced for the revalorization of glycerol, a major side-product of the growing biodiesel industry. The overwhelming majority of DHA produced worldwide is intended for application as a self-tanning agent in cosmetic formulations. This review provides an overview of the discovery, physical and chemical properties of DHA, and of its industrial production routes from glycerol. Microbial fermentation is the only industrial-scaled route but advances in electrooxidation and aerobic oxidation are also reported. This review focuses on the plurality of reactivities of DHA to help chemists interested in bio-based building blocks see the potential of DHA for this application. The handling of DHA is delicate as it can undergo dimerization as well as isomerization reactions in aqueous solutions at room temperature. DHA can also be involved in further side-reactions, yielding original side-products, as well as compounds of interest. If this peculiar reactivity was harnessed, DHA could help address current sustainability challenges encountered in the synthesis of speciality polymers, ranging from biocompatible polymers to innovative polymers with cutting-edge properties and improved biodegradability.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/6/2724bio-basedcarbohydratesDHAmonomerpolymerglycerol |
| spellingShingle | Léo Bricotte Kamel Chougrani Valérie Alard Vincent Ladmiral Sylvain Caillol Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon Molecules bio-based carbohydrates DHA monomer polymer glycerol |
| title | Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon |
| title_full | Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon |
| title_fullStr | Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon |
| title_short | Dihydroxyacetone: A User Guide for a Challenging Bio-Based Synthon |
| title_sort | dihydroxyacetone a user guide for a challenging bio based synthon |
| topic | bio-based carbohydrates DHA monomer polymer glycerol |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/6/2724 |
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