Reductive Amination of Levulinic Acid to Pyrrolidones: Key Step in Biomass Valorization towards Nitrogen‐Containing Chemicals

Abstract

Nowadays, the field of biomass conversion is gradually moving towards a hopeful era. The preparation of nitrogen‐containing chemicals using various biomass resources instead of fossil resources cannot only reduce carbon emissions, but also diversify the products of biomass conversion, thus increasing the economic competitiveness of biomass refining systems. LA can be used as a promising intermediate in biomass conversion for further synthesis of pyrrolidone via reductive amination. However, there are still many critical issues to be solved. Particularly, the specific effects of catalysts on the performance of LA reductive amination have not been sufficiently revealed, and the potential impacts of key conditional factors have not been clearly elucidated. In view of this, this review attempts to provide theoretical insights through an in‐depth interpretation of the above key issues. The contribution of catalysts to the reductive amination of LA as well as the catalyst structural preferences that favor for improving catalytic performance are discussed. In addition, the role of key conditional factors is discussed. The insights presented in this review will contribute to the design of catalyst nanostructures and the rational configuration of green reaction conditions, which may provide inspiration to facilitate the nitrogen‐related transformation of more biomass platform molecules.

Catalytic conversion of chitin-based biomass to nitrogen-containing chemicals

“… 24 , 25 For example, pyrrolidinone can be synthesized in one pot through the reductive amination of cellulose-derived platform chemical LA using hydrogen gas. 26 Efficient production of benzylamine is also achievable from lignin β- O -4 model compounds. 27 In addition, N -alkylation of amines with alcohols via transfer hydrogenation is a more environmentally benign method to produce N -alkylamines.…”