α-Ketoglutaric acid (KGA) and methanetriacetic acid (MTA) are multifunctional carboxylic acids with diverse applications, yet their current synthetic methods remain neither environmentally friendly nor efficient. Here, the authors present a water-based synthesis of KGA and MTA using biomass-derived precursors, pyruvic acid and glyoxylic acid, through aldol condensation followed by hydrodeoxygenation reactions.
- Cheng-Bin Hong
- Wangde Hua
- Haichao Liu