3-Phenylpropan-1-ol Production from Natural Cinnamaldehyde
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing 3-phenylpropan-1-ol from cinnamaldehyde are hazardous to living organisms and the environment, require extensive purification steps, and rely on petrochemical starting materials, which are harmful and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A process to produce 3-phenylpropan-1-ol from cinnamaldehyde derived from natural sources, such as essential oils and plant extracts with high cinnamaldehyde content, using catalytic hydrogenation with a nickel catalyst and subsequent purification by alkaline water extraction and distillation, avoiding the need for extensive purification and reducing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If cinnamaldehyde is obtained from natural sources through extensive purification steps, then purity is improved, but manufacturing complexity and time are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary concentration of cinnamaldehyde in the natural starting material to at least 80 wt.% before hydrogenation. This preliminary action eliminates the need for extensive purification steps after hydrogenation, as the concentrated starting material directly yields high-purity phenylpropanol after a single distillation step, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high purity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and concentrates cinnamaldehyde from natural sources to obtain a starting material with at least 80 wt.% cinnamaldehyde content. This extraction and concentration step removes impurities beforehand, allowing the hydrogenation process to proceed cleanly without requiring complex post-purification procedures.
2Productivity
If conventional hydrogenation uses precious metal or transition metal catalysts, then reaction efficiency is improved, but cost and environmental impact are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive and environmentally problematic precious metal or transition metal catalysts with a simple, inexpensive, and environmentally benign nickel catalyst. The nickel catalyst achieves the same hydrogenation function without the harmful environmental impact and high cost associated with precious metals, making the process both economically viable and environmentally friendly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the catalyst parameter from precious metal or transition metal to nickel, which is abundant, inexpensive, and environmentally benign. This parameter change maintains reaction efficiency while eliminating the environmental harm and high cost associated with rare metals.
3Quantity of substance
If aldol condensation is used to produce cinnamaldehyde, then production volume is improved, but yield and selectivity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of synthesizing cinnamaldehyde through aldol condensation (which gives only 70-80% yield and poor selectivity), the patent inverts the approach by obtaining cinnamaldehyde directly from natural sources where it occurs abundantly. This inversion eliminates the low-yield synthesis step and provides both high production volume and high purity cinnamaldehyde starting material.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides an industrially feasible, environmentally friendly, and efficient production of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol with high purity and low allergen potential, suitable for use in perfumes, personal care products, and other applications, while minimizing the use of hazardous petrochemicals.
Implementation Method 1
conversion of cinnamaldehyde in starting material to 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by a catalytic hydrogenation
Implementation Method 2
catalysed by Molybdenum-promoted sponge Nickel catalysts
Implementation Method 3
distillation of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol
Implementation Method 4
purification of the 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by alkaline water extraction
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacturing of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol, from nature derived starting material, wherein said nature derived starting material comprises not less than 80 wt. % of cinnamaldehyde. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the process, which further comprises the steps: a) conversion of cinnamaldehyde as starting material to 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by a catalytic hydrogenation; b) optional purification of the 3-phenylpropan-1-ol by alkaline water extraction; c) distillation of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol. In a third aspect the present invention relates to use of 3-phenylpropan-1-ol obtained by the process of the invention in perfumes and/or personal care and/or cleaning products.