Solvent- and Metal-Free Ketonization of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters and Triacylglycerols with Nitrous Oxide

Herein we report a new, one-step procedure for the metal-free ketonization of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters and triacylglycerol mixtures with nitrous oxide (N 2 O). The conversion of various substrates can be tuned by parameters such as temperature, reaction time and N 2 O partial pressure. This ketonization chemistry offers various advantages over the classic Wacker catalytic process and a state-of-the-art two-step procedure via intermediate epoxides.