Efficient One‐Step Synthesis of Lactide with High Yield and Selectivity Using Brønsted Acid Catalysis

In this work, a one‐step method synthesis of lactide was reported instead of the traditional two‐step method. The selection of a suitable acid catalyst polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and optimization of reaction conditions resulted in a yield of 97%. Moreover, this new one‐step strategy eliminates the need for metal catalysts and does not require high‐temperature conditions, thereby avoiding the issue of racemization. The simple one‐step strategy offers a combination of efficiency, sustainability, and product quality improvements, making it a modern, practical approach to lactide synthesis.