Synthesis and functionalization of aldehydes from unsaturated fatty acids or esters cleavage – FatCleavAld

This proposal is a collaborative project between ARKEMA, SCR (Rennes) and LACCO (Poitiers). It deals with some fundamental aspects of the transformation of unsaturated molecules derived from vegetable oils and fats with the expectancy of a near future industrial application by ARKEMA.
The aim of the project is the cleavage of unsaturated fatty acids or esters to form aldehyde – acid/ester molecules. This “platform molecule” (PM) will then be transformed into amino – acid/ester (reductive amination) or alcohol – acid/ester (selective reduction). Once purified, these products will be used as monomers for the synthesis of polyamides and polyesters, (Polymerization is not part of the proposal). The main goal of this project is the elaboration and development of a new sustainable route for the synthesis of these monomers/polymers fully arising from renewable resources.
During the first step of the project, the cleavage of the unsaturated fatty compounds will be studied by cross methathesis with acrolein or by oxidative cleavage (H2O2, O3 or N2O); reductive ozonolysis being a secure way to obtain the target PM.
From the aldehyde formed, reductive amination and selective reduction will be performed comparing homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis on the economic viability and sustainability aspects.
Finally, a study on the purification processes of the obtained monomers will be performed.