Direct N-alkylation of amines with alcohols was successfully performed by using nanosized zeolite beta, which showed the highest catalytic activity among other conventional zeolites. This method has several advantages, such as eco-friendliness, moderate to high yields, and simple work-up procedure. The catalyst was successfully recovered and reused without significant loss of activity and only water is produced as co-product. In addition, imines were also efficiently prepared from the tandem reactions of amines with 2-, 3- and 4-nitrobenzyl alcohols using nanosized zeolite beta.

The valuable products produced from glycerol transformation have become a research route that attracted considerable benefits owing to their huge volumes in recent decades (as a result of biodiesel production as a byproduct) as well as a myriad of chemical and biological techniques for transforming glycerol into high-value compounds, such as fuel additives, biofuels, precursors and other useful chemicals, etc. Biodiesel has presented another challenge in the considerable increase in its byproduct (glycerol). This review provides a recent update on the transformation of glycerol with an exclusive focus on the various catalysts’ performance in designing reaction operation conditions. The different products observed and cataloged in this review involved hydrogen, acetol, acrolein, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol (1,3-propanediol and 1,2-propanediol) from reforming and dehydration and hydrogenolysis reactions of glycerol conversions. The future prospects and critical challenges are finally presented.