Natural products as biofuels and bio-based chemicals: fatty acids and isoprenoids

Nat Prod Rep. 2015 Sep 23;32(10):1508-26. doi: 10.1039/c5np00068h.

Abstract

Although natural products are best known for their use in medicine and agriculture, a number of fatty acid-derived and isoprenoid natural products are being developed for use as renewable biofuels and bio-based chemicals. This review summarizes recent work on fatty acid-derived compounds (fatty acid alkyl esters, fatty alcohols, medium- and short-chain methyl ketones, alkanes, α-olefins, and long-chain internal alkenes) and isoprenoids, including hemiterpenes (e.g., isoprene and isopentanol), monoterpenes (e.g., limonene), and sesquiterpenes (e.g., farnesene and bisabolene).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alkanes / chemistry
  • Alkenes / chemistry
  • Biofuels*
  • Biological Products / chemistry*
  • Cyclohexenes / chemistry
  • Fatty Acids / chemistry*
  • Hemiterpenes / chemistry
  • Limonene
  • Molecular Structure
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry
  • Terpenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Alkanes
  • Alkenes
  • Biofuels
  • Biological Products
  • Cyclohexenes
  • Fatty Acids
  • Hemiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • Terpenes
  • Limonene