(383p) Synthesis and Properties of Symmetric and Asymmetric Glycerol-Derived 1,3-Diether-2-Alkenes for CO2 Absorption

Glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production (10 wt.%), is derived from animal fats and vegetable oils. It is a sustainable and eco-friendly substance but is challenging to use without upgrading or purification. Glycerol also suffers from a high viscosity and water uptake. When converted to glycidyl ethers or epichlorohydrin, these “activated forms” of glycerol offer vast potential for designing new “green” solvents, chemical building blocks, monomers, and polymers.

This work employed a novel approach to synthesize five new symmetric and asymmetric glycerol-derived 1,3-diether-2-alkenes utilizing a three-step strategy starting from epichlorohydrin or glycidyl ethers and the ratio of E and Z structure alkenes are close to 1:1 or E1, E2, Z1, and Z2 are close to 1:1:1:1.

Thermophysical properties of a set of 1,3-diether-2-alkenes (e.g., density, refractive index, and viscosity) were measured over a 5 – 25 ^o C temperature range because of these alkenes' relatively low boiling points. CO₂ absorption capacities of (E, Z)-1,3-bis(2,2,2-trifluoromethoxy) prop-1-ene ([F, A, F]) were measured at different temperatures at CO₂ partial pressures in the range of 2-10 atm.