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Controlling Selectivities In Heterogeneously Catalyzed Aldol Reactions, Koushik Ponnuru

Doctoral Dissertations

Aldol condensation is an important C-C bond formation reaction in chemical synthesis that finds versatile applications in bulk and fine chemical industries and has the potential for upgrading of biomass to fuels. However, aldol reactions pose a challenge for controlling the product selectivity by forming a mixture of desired and undesired self, cross, and poly-condensation products. Furthermore, a side reaction, the fission of aldol products resulting in an olefin and a carboxylic acid, has garnered attention recently as a route to isobutene from acetone. While a high level of selectivity control is achievable by homogeneous catalysis, selective solid catalysts, which …