Green methodologies for the synthesis of alcohols and esters widely used in the cosmetics industry.

Abstract

Three alcohols (1-phenylethanol, 3-octanol, and 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanol), and two esters (3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanyl propanoate and 3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexanyl cyclopropanoate), with known applications in the cosmetics industry were synthesized using green methodologies. The alcohols were synthesized through a DiPFc-catalyzed reaction followed by hydrogenation, and a solvent-free methodology, with the latter yielding 100% alcohol. The two esters were synthesized through four methods each, all of which involved irradiation by microwaves. Two of the esterifications were acid- catalyzed and the remaining ones were base-catalyzed. The yields of each type of esterification methodology were not consistent for the two esters. However, the base- catalyzed esterifications were proven to be a good starting point for the synthesis of unknown esters showing agreement in the yields of the two esters. The significance of these experiments lies in the fact that the synthesis of molecules, important for the environmentally-costly cosmetics industry, has been shown to be successful with the use of eco-friendly methodologies.