Abstract β,β-Disubstituted-1,3-dinitro compounds were obtained exclusively with an overall yield of 83% through a domino nitroaldol/elimination/1,4-addition process, when excess nitromethane was added to cyclohexanone or butanone using DBU (1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene), as a basic catalyst. On the other hand, β-nitroalcohols could be obtained in 30-84% yield, when nitromethane reacts with different aliphatic ketones in stoichiometric amounts, in the presence of catalytic amounts of K2CO3(s), Amberlyst® -A21 or TBAF.3H2O (tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride trihydrate)/THF (tetrahydrofuran). In addition, a new and versatile route to obtainment of allylic nitro compounds, by treatment of acetylated nitroalcohols and aldehydes in catalytic amounts of DBU or TBAF.3H2O, via a one-pot elimination/nitroaldol reaction sequence, was developed.

New efficient and reproductive routes to production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (1), 1,3-dichloroacetone (6), 1,3-dibromoacetone (7) and 1,3-diiodoacetone (8) from glycerol 1,3-dichlorohydrin (3) were developed. The synthesis of 1 was processed in three steps from glycerol 2 (1,3-selective chlorination of 2 to 3, oxidation of 3 to 6 and subsequent di-hydroxylation) in 51% overall yield. On the other hand, 7 and 8 were produced from3, via a trans-bromination and trans-iodination, respectively, followed by oxidation and hydroxylation steps, in 38-52% overall yield. It was used homogeneous media with different reagents (HCl/AcOH, pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC), PCC-HIO4) and heterogeneous media with reagents supported on polymer resins such as Amberlyst® A26-HCrO4– form, PV-PCC (polyvinyl-pyridinium chlorochromate) and Amberlyst® A26-OH- form or reagents supported on alumina such as KI/Al2O3, KBr/Al2O3, in solvent free conditions.

Uma nova rota catalítica, de potencial interesse prático para a produção sustentável de acetinas a partir do glicerol, é descrita. Acetato de etila foi transesterificado com glicerol, numa razão glicerol:EtOAc 1:10, a 25 ou 90 ºC, usando 0,1 equivalente de H2SO4 ou TsOH como catalisadores homogêneos. H2SO4 levou ao consumo total de glicerol, a 90 ºC, em 2 h. No equilíbrio, atingido em 9 h, 100% de uma mistura diacetina:triacetina (55:45) foi formada. Usando-se AmberlystTM 15 seca e AmberlystTM 16 úmida numa razão glicerol:EtOAc 1:30 sob refluxo a 90 ºC, obteve-se o consumo total do glicerol em 2 e 10 h, respectivamente. A menor reatividade da resina Amberlyst-16 úmida foi explicada pela desativação dos sítios ácidos e pela diminuição da difusão do glicerol para o interior dos poros, causada pela água adsorvida. A cinética da transformação do glicerol e a distribuição de produtos no equilíbrio para a reação catalisada por H2SO4, AmberlystTM 15 seca e AmberlystTM 16 úmida foram medidas e racionalizadas.

A new catalytic route with potential practical interest to sustainable production of bio-additives from glycerol is described. Ethyl acetate was transesterified with glycerol, in the ratio glycerol:EtOAc 1:10, at 25 or 90 ºC using 0.1 equiv. of H2SO4 or TsOH, as homogeneous catalysts. H2SO4 led to the total glycerol consumption in 2 h. In the equilibrium, attained in 9 h, 100% yield of a diacetin:triacetin (55:45) mixture was formed. Using AmberlystTM 15 dry and AmberlystTM 16 wet in 1:30 glycerol:EtOAc ratio and reflux at 90 ºC the total glycerol consumption was achieved in 2 and 10h, respectively. The lower reactivity of Amberlyst-16 wet was explained in terms of deactivation of acid sites and decrease in glycerol diffusion to the inner resin pores, both factors caused by adsorbed water. The kinetics of glycerol transformation and product distribution in the equilibrium in relation to the H2SO4, Amberlyst-15 (dry) and Amberlyst-16 (wet) catalyzed reactions were measured.