Researchers from the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) have developed an efficient three-step process for the conversion of cellulosic feedstocks to both a valuable chemical precursor and high-performance jet fuel blendstock. Their paper appears in the journal ChemSusChem . In it, the team describes the synthesis of sustainable methylcyclopentadiene and dimethyldicyclopentadiene (DMDCPD) via a three-step process consisting of aldol condensation; catalytic chemoselective hydrogenation; and dehydration. Synthesis of methylcyclopentadiene (4), dimethyldicyclopentadiene (5), and RJ-4 from biomass sugars. Woodroffe & Harvey (2020) Although ground vehicles, including cars and light trucks, can be easily powered by renewable electricity or hydrogen, the immense power requirements of commercial and military jet aircraft are currently dependent on hydrocarbon fuels. Petroleum-derived jet fuels are composed of n-paraffins, isoparaffins, cycloalkanes, and aromatic compounds. These complex mixtures contain up to 25% aromatic compounds which have low gravimetric heats of combustion and can increase particulate emissions. To […]