Green solvents from glycerol. Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of alkyl glycerol ethers

A family of glycerol derivatives, consisting of over sixty 1,3-dialkoxy-2-propanols and 1,2,3-trialkoxypropanes, both symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted at terminal positions, have been synthesized and the possible role of these glycerol derivatives as substitutive solvents has been evaluated through measurements of their physico-chemical properties. The molecular diversity of the derivatives prepared results in significant variations of polarity properties, facilitating the identification of possible candidates for solvent substitution.