Advances in Sustainable γ-Valerolactone (GVL) Production via Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Levulinic Acid and Its Esters

gamma-Valerolactone (GVL) is a versatile chemical derived from biomass, known for its uses such as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solvent, a fuel additive, and a building block for renewable polymers and fuels. Researchers are keenly interested in the catalytic transfer hydrogenation of levulinic acid and its esters as a method to produce GVL. This approach eliminates the need for H-2 pressure and costly metal catalysts, improving the safety, cost effectiveness and environmental sustainability of the process. Our Perspective highlights recent advancements in this field, particularly with respect to catalyst development, categorizing them according to catalyst types, including zirconia-based, zeolites, precious metals, and nonprecious metal catalysts. We discuss factors such as reaction conditions, catalyst characteristics, and hydrogen donors and outline challenges and future research directions in this popular area of research.