Solvent‐Free Conversion of Linalool to Methylcyclopentadiene Dimers: A Route To Renewable High‐Density Fuels

Neat biofuel in HD: Linalool, a linear terpene alcohol, can be selectively converted by ruthenium metathesis catalysts under solvent-free conditions to 1-methyl-cyclopent-2-enol and isobutylene in quantitative yield. Dehydration of the alcohol under mild conditions followed by low-temperature thermal dimerization yields methylcyclopentadiene dimer, which can be readily converted into a high-density fuel.