Renewable materials as precursors of linear nitrile-acid derivatives via cross-metathesis of fatty esters and acids with acrylonitrile and fumaronitrile

The cross-metathesis of fatty acids and esters, as renewable raw materials, with acrylonitrile and fumaronitrile is presented. The cross-metathesis reactions of both terminal and internal double bond containing compounds were performed using a ruthenium catalyst and led to bifunctional nitrile-esters or nitrile-acids with high conversions. The tandem ruthenium catalysed cross-metathesis and hydrogenation provide precursors of aminoacid monomers for the production of polyamides from renewable resources.