Sustainable production of azelaic acid from vegetable oils over a heterogeneous catalyst

The sustainable and eco-compatible valorization of renewable feedstocks to synthesize important chemicals is an intense area of research. Currently, ozonolysis is the sole industrial process for the sustainable synthesis of azelaic acid, predominately utilizing oleic acid. Here, the work described the utilization of a non-edible Triadica sebifera seed oil and other vegetable oils to synthesize azelaic acid in 48–72% yields. The process utilized a recyclable WO3-Na2SnO3 based commercial heterogeneous catalytic system and a greener oxidant (30% aq·H2O2), which resulted in a less harmful impact on the environment. The catalytic system was also utilized to synthesize other commercially important dicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid with 58% yield and suberic acid with 56–60% yields. A non-fatty acid-containing oil (anise oil) was used to synthesize p-anisic acid at the gram scale in a 76% yield. A range of benzoic acid derivatives has also been synthesized by utilizing various substituted styrenes in 52–88% yields.