D-Excess-LaA Production Directly from Biomass by Trivalent Yttrium Species.

ABSTRACT: D-lactic acid (D-LaA) synthesis directly from actual biomass via chemocatalytic conversion has shown high potential for satisfying its enormous demand in widespread applications. Here we report yttrium (Y(III))-species-catalyzed conversion of xylose and raw lignocelluloses to LaA with the highest yield of 87.3% (20% ee to D-LaA, ee%=(moles of D-LaA - moles of L-LaA)/(moles of D-LaA + moles of L-LaA) × 100). Combining experiments with theoretical modeling, we reveal that [Y(OH)2(H2O)2]+ is the possible catalytically active species, enabling the unconventional cleavage of C3-C4 in xylulose and the subsequent dehydration of glyceraldehyde to pyruvaldehyde (PRA). The distinct interactions between hydrated-PRA and [Y(OH)2(H2O)2]+ species contribute to the formation of different enantiomers, whe

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6352709 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature