Catalytic hydrogenation for a biomass-derived dicarboxylic acid valorisation with an ionic liquid and CO2 towards a perspective host guest building block molecule

Host guest building block molecule, 9-thiabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane-2,6-dione, was synthesised in an advanced, one-pot hydrogenation process executed in a green solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide. Carbon capture and utilisation with a combination of ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate) and heterogeneous commercially available catalyst allowed for subsequent selective transformation of carbohydrate rich terrestrial renewable feedstock by simple acid dimerisation with embedded sulfur atom. The hydrogenation gives also possibility to convert a cheap lignocellulosic biomass to valuable products, including ethanol with a potential application in biorefinery. Presented method brings perspective to extend the range of the process to the manufacturing scale due to competing with hazardous, laboratory scale method of renewable building block production for human healthcare.