Homogeneously-catalyzed etherification of glycerol with 1-dodecanol

Here we describe the direct catalytic etherification of glycerol with 1-dodecanol. In particular, we show that addition of 10 mol% of 1-bromododecane in the reaction medium led to the nearly complete conversion of 1-dodecanol and to the formation of the targeted monododecyl glyceryl ethers with 60% yield, thus opening a direct route for the synthesis of bio-based surfactants.