Converting wastes into added value products: from glycerol to glycerol carbonate, glycidol and epichlorohydrin using environmentally friendly synthetic routes

Glycerol carbonate, synthesised via a non-phosgene route using glycerol and CO(2) or urea in presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, was efficiently converted into a series of derivatives through the functionalization of the -OH moiety, using high yield, high selectivity synthetic routes not affecting the carbonate functionality. So, for example, glycerol carbonate was converted into epichlorohydrin, a product that has a large industrial application, under very mild conditions, using a two-step reaction with a 98% yield and 100% selectivity. The high yield and mild reaction conditions (very often close to the ambient conditions) make the environmentally friendly synthetic approach described in this work of potential applicative interest. All compounds prepared were fully characterized. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.