In 2015,Wang, Yuran; Vogelgsang, Ferdinand; Roman-Leshkov, Yuriy published 《Acid-catalyzed oxidation of levulinate derivatives to succinates under mild conditions》.ChemCatChem published the findings.Electric Literature of C4H8O3 The information in the text is summarized as follows:
Here we report on the oxidation of Me levulinate into di-Me succinate with peroxides under mild conditions using Bronsted and Lewis acid catalysts. Selectivities to succinate and acetate derivatives of approx. 60 and 40 %, resp., were obtained with strong Bronsted acids in methanol. Although the mol. structure (i.e., carbon-chain length and branching around the C=O group) and the oxidant type affect the product distribution, solvent choice has the strongest impact on changing the location of oxygen insertion into the carbon backbone. Specifically, switching the solvent from methanol to heptane resulted in a decrease in the succinate/acetate ratio from 1.6 to 0.3. In contrast to Bronsted acids, we demonstrate that the nature of the metal cation is responsible for changing the reaction selectivity of water-tolerant Lewis acidic triflate salts. In the experimental materials used by the author, we found Methyl 3-hydroxypropanoate(cas: 6149-41-3Electric Literature of C4H8O3)
Methyl 3-hydroxypropanoate(cas: 6149-41-3) belongs to esters with low molecular weight are commonly used as fragrances and found in essential oils and pheromones. Their flexibility and low polarity is manifested in their physical properties; they tend to be less rigid (lower melting point) and more volatile (lower boiling point) than the corresponding amides. Electric Literature of C4H8O3
Referemce:
Ester – Wikipedia,
Ester – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics