Ionic Liquids as Homogeneous Catalysts for Glycerol Oligomerization.

Ionic liquids (ILs) were used for the first time as catalysts for the glycerin condensation reaction. A series of imidazolium and ammonium ionic liquids differing in the length of the alkyl substituent (C, C, and C) and the type of anion (Br, CHCOO, and NaHPO) were synthesized using a typical two-step method. The structure of the obtained ILs was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance C NMR, and their base power was determined on the basis of the Hammett function.

The Formation of Glycerol Oligomers with Two New Types of End Groups in the Presence of a Homogeneous Alkaline Catalyst.

The purpose of this work was to synthesize and characterize oligoglycerols with the chains of more than four repeating units. Those oligoglycerols may have some interesting applications, among others, as polyoxyalkylation starters. The glycerol oligomerization process was carried out during 12 h, at 230 °C, under the pressure of 0.