Ruthenium-catalyzed conversion of levulinic acid to pyrrolidines by reductive amination.

Graphical Combo deal: An aqueous solution of levulinic acid (LA) and formic acid (FA) derived from biomass-based carbohydrates can be converted efficiently to pyrrolidines via a ruthenium catalyst without need for an energy-intensive separation of LA or an external H 2 source. The ruthenium catalyst combines two processes: decomposition of FA to H 2 and reductive amination of LA with an amine.