A Prolific Catalyst for Selective Conversion of Neat Glycerol to Lactic Acid

We report the synthesis and reactivity of a very robust iridium catalyst for glycerol to lactate conversion. The high reactivity and selectivity of this catalyst enable a sequence for the conversion of biodiesel waste stream to lactide monomers for the preparation of poly­(lactic acid). Furthermore, experimental data collected with this system provide a general understanding of its reactive mechanism.