Deoxydehydration Reaction Catalyzed by Dioxomolybdenum Complexes of Salan Ligands

C327

The world’s material and energy needs are currently met primarily through the utilization of fossil resources. Petrochemicals, for example, are used as fuel and utilized in the synthesis of various chemicals and materials. Although this method has proven to be the most efficient and effective, we cannot rely heavily on it, especially long term, because fossil fuels are finite and associated processes are environmentally harmful. Therefore, a transition from fossil fuels to other renewable resources is a necessity. In this study, we investigate the possibility of using biomass as a renewable resource that ultimately shares similar characteristics to petroleum. However, biomass such as lignocellulose, is highly functionalized (oxygenated), while petroleum are mostly hydrocarbons in nature. We perform a couple of reduction reactions to reduce this highly-functionalized attribute in biomass: Deoxydehydration (DODH) and dehydration reactions, which converts diols and alcohols into olefins. The best DODH catalysts discovered so far involve the rare transition metal, rhenium. This metal has shown to provide the best yields; however, it is absurdly expensive and scarce. On the other hand, the transition metal molybdenum is more abundant, cheaper and similar to rhenium, but with reduced yields. By supporting the molybdenum catalyst over salan ligands, we explore the potential of using this more practical molybdenum catalyst in the facilitation of DODH and dehydration reactions. More specifically, we want to see how changing the ligand backbone from (N,N’-H₂)LMoO₂ to (N,N’-Me₂)LMoO₂ in these complexes affects catalytic efficiency.