Levulinic acid can undergo several catalytic transformations to yield valuable products:
Hydrogenation of levulinic acid produces γ-valerolactone (GVL), a promising biofuel and solvent. Esterification with alcohols leads to the formation of levulinates, which are useful as plasticizers and solvents. It can be converted to 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran (2-MTHF), a potential fuel additive, through catalytic hydrogenation. The decarboxylation of levulinic acid yields pentanoic acid, an important intermediate in the synthesis of various chemicals.
