Environmentally Friendly Synthesis of gamma-Valerolactone by Direct Catalytic Conversion of Renewable Sources

Gamma-valerolactone is a valuable chemical that can be obtained by catalytic methods from nonedible vegetable biomass. However, the demand is felt for more environmentally friendly and cost-effective production processes. The topic is reviewed in this paper from the perspective of catalyst design. Focus is on those systems enabling one-pot reaction sequences in the liquid phase at low energy expenses and combining metal and acid sites, spanning, from homogeneous to heterogeneous catalysts. A final section is dedicated to continuous flow applications. The 230 references cover the most significant. achievements published in the literature from January 2011 to July 2014 and highlight critical issues and future trends.