Abstract
| - Glycerol, a cheap renewable feedstock, was converted selectively to 1,2-propanediol by heatingunder low hydrogen pressure (10 bar), in the presence of Raney nickel. No solvents or additiveswere required, and the product could be distilled out of the reaction mixture. Addition of aphosphonium salt, a liquid at the reaction temperature, improved the selectivity and rate to asmall extent but did not facilitate the separation of the final reaction mixture.
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