Polyamide precursors from renewable 10-undecenenitrile and methyl acrylate via olefin cross-metathesis

Abstract

The ruthenium-catalyzed cross-metathesis of the unsaturated fatty acid derivative 10-undecenenitrile 1 arising from castor oil with methyl acrylate produces a C12 nitrile ester with high turnover number. This product has potential as a new bio-sourced intermediate for the production of polyamides. This route competes favourably with the reverse cross-metathesis of methyl 10-undecenoate with acrylonitrile leading to the same C12 α,ω-amino ester 7 after hydrogenation of the carbon–carbon double bond and the nitrile functionality.