Renewable Materials As Precursors of Acrylic Acid, Acrylates, and Acrylonitrile Using Ethenolysis

We have established that ethenolysis of materials containing a ‑CH=CH₂C(O)OH group can produce acrylic acid. Similarly, materials containing a ‑CH=CH₂CN group can produce acrylonitrile. Several renewable materials used as precursors, including fumaric/ muconic acid, octatrienoic acid,  and β-angelica lactone, were tested to elucidate the yield of acrylic acid/acrylates or acrylonitrile.