Employing crude glycerol from biodiesel production as an alternative green reaction medium

Crude glycerol from triglyceride alcoholysis has successfully been employed as a green solvent in base catalyzed aldol condensation and palladium catalyzed Heck carbon–carbon coupling without any purification. The oil source did not affect reaction performance, yet the reactions in crude glycerol usually showed lower conversions than the reactions in pure glycerol. However, the residual base, which was used as a catalyst in the alcoholysis reaction, was further used as a catalyst in the tested reactions.