Solvent‐ and Metal‐Free Ketonization of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Triacylglycerols with Nitrous Oxide

Abstract

Abstract Herein we report a new, one‐step procedure for the metal‐free ketonization of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters and triacylglycerol mixtures with nitrous oxide (N 2 O). The conversion of various substrates can be tuned by parameters such as temperature, reaction time and N 2 O partial pressure. This ketonization chemistry offers various advantages over the classic Wacker catalytic process and a state‐of‐the‐art two‐step procedure via intermediate epoxides.