Practical separation of alcohol-ester mixtures using Deep-Eutectic-Solvents

Deep-Eutectic-Solvents (DES) were assessed for the separation of alcohol-ester mixtures, for example those typically obtained from catalytic kinetic resolutions of racemic alcohols. DES can efficiently dissolve molecules containing hydrogen-bond-donors (alcohols), whereas esters remain as second phase. By using this concept, tedious separation chromatographic steps may be easily overcome with bio-based non-hazardous solvents. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.