Chemical Sustainability Research Theme Seminar

Lewis acid is an essential type of catalyst in chemical industry. Many Lewis acids are receiving increasing attention in the field of renewable biomass conversion to biobased chemicals and materials, because their water compatibility, thermal resistance, and the special ability to activate oxygen-containing functional groups. In that regard, Lewis acid may contribute key technical advances to a sustainable future of the earth. We developed catalytic conversion of naturally abundant triglycerides to value-added chemicals, featuring ester C(sp3)-O bond activation by strong homogeneous metal triflate Lewis acids. Such activation of esters unexpectedly lead us to the chemical recycling of waste polyesters and a series of new chemistry of quinones enabled by Lewis acids.