Highly Efficient Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid into γ‐Valerolactone using an Iron Pincer Complex

Abstract

Abstract The search for nonprecious‐metal‐based catalysts for the synthesis of γ‐valerolactone (GVL) through hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its derivatives in an efficient fashion is of great interest and importance, as GVL is an important a sustainable liquid. We herein report a pincer iron complex that can efficiently catalyze the hydrogenation of levulinic acid and methyl levulinate into GVL, achieving a turnover number of up to 23 000 and a turnover frequency of 1917 h −1 . This iron‐based catalyst also enabled the formation of GVL from various biomass‐derived carbohydrates in aqueous solution, thus paving a new way toward a renewable chemical industry.