Biodiesel made from oils is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids methyl esters, and, consequently, presents high tendency to oxidize. Biodiesel made from fats, on the other hand, is mainly comprised by saturated chains. Although it is highly stable, they easily crystalize at low temperatures. Blends from both can exhibit optimized properties. In this work, oxidative stability, expressed by induction period (IP), and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of blends from palm, palm kernel, babassu, tallow or lard biodiesels with soy one were measured. Biodiesel samples were prepared by two steps transesterification methodology with KOH catalysis followed by H2SO4. IP increases, as the fat biodiesel content in the blend is higher, as expected. Blends comprised by 60% of fat biodiesel by volume had their IP increased from 1.5 (lard) to 2 times (palm kernel), compared to soy one. At this level, IP was found 8 h or higher, except for palm, which 80% was required. CFPP was observed at 8 °C or lower for the blends containing up to 60% of all the fat biodiesel, except for the palm one, which a 20% content must not be surpassed. Palm kernel 80% biodiesel blend reached the Brazilian specification, that is, IP higher than 12 h and CFPP lower than 5 °C.

An environmentally benign method is described for the α-hydroxylation of malonates and cyclic analogues in aqueous medium at room temperature under mild conditions, based on the in situ generation of dimethyldioxirane through the combination of acetone and Oxone®. This procedure was found to be substrate-dependent and was successfully performed to provide α-hydroxylated γ-lactones. To demonstrate the synthetic potential of this mild α-hydroxylation, two different concise routes were developed to synthesize harzialactone A in the racemic form with a moderate (3:1) diastereomeric ratio.

Uma série de nove hidratos de cloretos metálicos (ZnCl2.2H2O, SnCl2.2H2O, CdCl2.2H2O, MnCl2.4H2O, CoCl2.6H2O, SrCl2.6H2O, NiCl2.6H2O, CrCl3.6H2O e CeCl3.7H2O) foi investigada como catalisadores ácidos de Lewis brandos e baratos na síntese multicomponente de triarilimidazóis. O melhor catalisador para as reações com benzila foi o SnCl2.2H2O, enquanto que para as reações com benzoína, o CeCl3.7H2O foi mais eficiente. Todas as reações foram efetuadas em EtOH como solvente. Estes catalisadores também foram empregados igualmente com sucesso na síntese de triariloxazóis.

A series of nine metal chloride hydrates (ZnCl2.2H2O, SnCl2.2H2O, CdCl2.2H2O, MnCl2.4H2O, CoCl2.6H2O, SrCl2.6H2O, NiCl2.6H2O, CrCl3.6H2O and CeCl3.7H2O) was investigated as mild and inexpensive Lewis acid catalysts to promote the multicomponent synthesis of triarylimidazoles. Reactions starting from benzil showed the best results when SnCl2.2H2O was used, while for benzoin as the starting material, CeCl3.7H2O was more efficient. All reactions were performed in EtOH as solvent. These catalysts were also successfully employed in the synthesis of triaryloxazoles.