Microalgae lipids as a feedstock for the production of benzene

A two-step one-pot synthesis of benzene from the five-fold unsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a component of microalgae oils, is presented. By a sequence of olefin metathesis and the catalytic dehydrogenation of the resulting 1,4-cyclohexadiene, two equivalents of benzene are effectively formed per EPA substrate molecule. As the only major by-products, 5-octenoic acid and 5-decenedioic acid are formed. Performing the dehydrogenation step under hydrogen pressure results in the formation of their saturated analogues, sebacic acid and octanoic acid, both desirable products, while the simultaneous dehydrogenation step to benzene is not hampered.