The base-catalysed reactions of OH-bearing biobased derivatives (BBDs) including glycerol formal, solketal, glycerol carbonate, furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol with non-toxic dialkyl carbonates (dimethyl and diethyl carbonate) were explored under continuous-flow (CF) conditions in the presence of three Na-exchanged Y- and X-faujasites (FAUs) and four Mg-Al hydrotalcites (HTs). Compared to previous etherification protocols mediated by dialkyl carbonates, the reported procedure offers substantial improvements not only in terms of (chemo)selectivity but also for the recyclability of the catalysts, workup, ease of product purification and, importantly, process intensification. Characterisation studies proved that both HT30 and KW2000 hydrotalcites acted as catalyst precursors: during the thermal activation pre-treatments, the typical lamellar structure of the hydrotalcite was broken down gradually into a MgO-like phase (periclase) or rather a magnesia-alumina solid solution, which was the genuine catalytic phase.

Ionic Liquids (ILs) have been suggested as useful extractants of aromatic nitrogencontaining compounds (N-compounds) from fuel oils. In this systematic study, ILs based on common cations and anions are employed as extractants of the archetypical N-compounds pyridine and indole from a model oil consisting of decane and toluene. The performance of these ILs as extractants of N-compounds is compared and rationalized. It is demonstrated that the cation and anion sizes (offering more surface area for extractants to interact) are the major factors determining the effectiveness of N-compounds extraction, although hydrogen bond donor/acceptor abilities of ILs can also play a role in the removal of these N-compounds. In this study, some ILs are found to dissolve considerable amount of oil contents. This undesired property can be controlled by the size of IL ions

The methyltriphenylphosphonium methylcarbonate salt [Ph3 PCH3 ][CH3 OCO2 ], obtained directly by quaternarization of triphenylphosphine with dimethylcarbonate, is a latent ylide that promotes Wittig vinylation of aldehydes and ketones. Alkenes are obtained simply by mixing [Ph3 PCH3 ][CH3 OCO2 ] and the carbonyl and heating in a solvent (no base, no halides, and no inorganic byproducts). Deuterium exchange experiments and the particularly short anion-cation distance measured by XRD in [Ph3 PCH3 ][CH3 OCO2 ] allowed to explain the nature and reactivity of this species. Green chemistry metrics (atom economy, mass index, environmental factor) indicate that this vinylation procedure is more efficient than comparable ones. Deuterated [Ph3 PCD3 ][CH3 OCO2 ] promoted the synthesis of deuterated olefins.