Photocatalytic green synthesis of piperonal in aqueous TiO2 suspension

Authors :: Vittorio Loddo
Vincenzo Augugliaro
Leonardo Palmisano
Marianna Bellardita
Giovanni Palmisano
Ivana Pibiri
Bellardita, M
Loddo, V
Palmisano,G
Pibiri,I
Palmisano, L
Augugliaro, V
Source :: Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. 144:607-613
Publication Year :: 2014
Publisher :: Elsevier BV, 2014.
Abstract: Piperonal (heliotropine or 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde) has been synthesized by oxidizing piperonyl alcohol in aqueous UV-irradiated TiO2 suspensions. This compound was identified by GC–MS chromatography, 1H NMR and melting point determination. The other products of the photoprocess were 1,3-bis(3,4-(methylenedioxy)benzyl) ether (found in traces) and CO2, derived from the parallel pathway of photo-mineralization. Commercial and home-prepared TiO2 samples have been tested and the best selectivity (ca. 35%) was obtained by using the home-prepared ones. The reported green process allows to obtain an added value product (piperonal), upon partial oxidation of a cheap reagent.