Green Design of Bio-based Platform Chemicals via Organic Carbonate

The transition from fossil-based chemistry to sustainable manufacturing requires the development of synthetic methodologies that integrate renewable feedstocks, environmentally benign reagents, and resource-efficient processes. Bio-based platform chemicals derived from lignocellulosic biomass, including furanic compounds, isosorbide, levulinic acid derivatives, sugar alcohols, and other oxygenated building blocks, represent key intermediates to produce next-generation polymers, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and functional materials. However, their efficient transformation often relies on hazardous reagents, toxic solvents, and multistep synthetic protocols that diminish the overall sustainability of the process. Within this context, our research focuses on advancing the green synthesis of bio-based platform chemicals by exploiting organic carbonates as green and versatile media and reagents. Dialkyl carbonates, particularly dimethyl carbonate (DMC), have been successfully employed as environmentally benign reagents, solvents, and reaction media for the synthesis and selective transformation of biomass-derived compounds, including D-sorbitol, D-fructose, galactaric acid, and related renewable feedstocks. These organic carbonates offer a safer alternative to conventional halogenated reagents while enabling highly selective, chlorine-free transformations under mild reaction conditions.