Homogeneously-acid catalyzed oligomerization of glycerol

Here we report the screening of various homogeneous acid catalysts in the oligomerization of glycerol at 150 °C. Under optimized conditions, a mixture of oligoglycerol with an average degree of oligomerization of 3.4 was obtained at a glycerol conversion of 80%. At such a conversion, the selectivity to oligoglycerols was higher than 90%. Oligoglycerols were then successfully alkylated, offering an attractive route to valuable molecules (biosurfactants or hydrotropes).