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Article
Origin of the Regioselectivity in the Aldol Condensation between Hydroxymethylfurfural and Levulinic Acid: A DFT Investigation
Chemistry & Physics Faculty Publications
  • Liwei Zhao, Ningbo University of Technology
  • Nnenna Elechi, Prairie View A & M University
  • Richard Qian, Prairie View A & M University
  • Timila B. Singh, Prairie View A & M University
  • Ananda S. Amarasekara, Prairie View A & M University
  • Hua Jun Fan, Prairie View A & M University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-9-2017
Abstract

Our previous work demonstrated that hydroxide ion (OH-) was able to catalyze aldol condensation reaction at room temperature between 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (LA). This work identified three primary reaction steps in this condensation reaction using density functional theory (DFT): (1) deprotonation of LA to generate LA ions, (2) LA ions addition at hydroxymethyl site of HMF, and (3) internal dehydration to form the condensation product. The reaction pathway through the C5 of LA forms a linear product that is favored with respect to both energy and configuration in all three elementary reaction steps. This is qualitatively consistent with the phenomenon observed in our previous experiment where the linear form is a main product. Further confirmation comes from the frontier orbital analysis of the transition states in the linear reaction route and explains the regioselectivity of product formation. (Chemical Equation Presented).

Citation Information
Liwei Zhao, Nnenna Elechi, Richard Qian, Timila B. Singh, et al.. "Origin of the Regioselectivity in the Aldol Condensation between Hydroxymethylfurfural and Levulinic Acid: A DFT Investigation" (2017)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/httpswwwpvamuedubcasdepartmentschemistryfaculty-and-staffasamarasekara/56/