RANEY (R) Ni catalyzed transfer hydrogenation of levulinate esters to gamma-valerolactone at room temperature

A catalytic transfer hydrogenation process was developed for the production of gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from ethyl levulinate (EL) and a H-donor at room temperature. Ethyl levulinate was almost quantitatively converted to gamma-valerolactone. Further, a two step process for producing GVL from biomass derived platform molecules was also reported.