Production of Biomass-Based Automotive Lubricants by Reductive Etherification.

Growing concern with the effects of CO emissions due to the combustion of petroleum-based transportation fuels has motivated the search for means to increase engine efficiency. The discovery of ethers with low viscosity presents an important opportunity to improve engine efficiency and fuel economy. We show here a strategy for the catalytic synthesis of such ethers by reductive etherification/O-alkylation of alcohols using building blocks that can be sourced from biomass.

Synergistic Effects in Bimetallic Palladium-Copper Catalysts Improve Selectivity in Oxygenate Coupling Reactions.

Condensation reactions such as Guerbet and aldol are important since they allow for C-C bond formation and give higher molecular weight oxygenates. An initial study identified Pd-supported on hydrotalcite as an active catalyst for the transformation, although this catalyst showed extensive undesirable decarbonylation. A catalyst containing Pd and Cu in a 3:1 ratio dramatically decreased decarbonylation, while preserving the high catalytic rates seen with Pd-based catalysts.