The direct conversion of C3 sugars (or trioses) to alkyl lactates was achieved using zeolite catalysts. This reaction represents a key step towards the efficient conversion of bio-glycerol or formaldehyde to added-value chemicals such as lactate derivatives. The highest yields and selectivities towards the desired lactate product were obtained with Ultrastable zeolite Y materials having a low Si/Al ratio and a high content of extra-framework aluminium. Correlating the types and amounts of acid sites present in the different zeolites reveals that two acid functions are required to achieve excellent catalysis. Brønsted acid sites catalyse the conversion of trioses to the reaction intermediate pyruvic aldehyde, while Lewis acid sites further assist in the intramolecular rearrangement of the aldehyde into the desired lactate ester product. The presence of strong zeolitic Brønsted acid sites should be avoided as much as possible, since they convert the intermediate pyruvic aldehyde into alkyl acetals instead of lactate esters. A tentative mechanism for the acid catalysis is proposed based on reference reactions and isotopically labelled experiments. Reusability of the USY catalyst is demonstrated for the title reaction.
