Seven different high-performance fuels were synthesized from bio-based monoterpenes (3-carene, sabinene, α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene, 1,6-dimethyl-1,5-cyclooctadiene, and myrcene) by Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation. Key fuel properties of the resulting multicyclic fuel mixtures were measured including, density, net heat of combustion (NHOC), and low-temperature viscosity. The mixtures exhibited densities 10–16% higher and volumetric NHOCs 12–16% higher than conventional jet fuel, while maintaining low temperature (−20 °C) viscosities either below or close to the specification limit. To evaluate the fuels as potential rocket propellants, heats of formation were calculated using the G4 composite method. These values were then used to calculate specific impulse (I_sp) and density-specific impulse (d-I_sp) for each fuel mixture. The cyclopropanated monoterpenes exhibited sea level I_sp values up to 1.2% higher than conventional rocket propellant (RP-1) and d-I_sp values up to 4.1% higher than RP-1. The results of this study suggest that cyclopropanated monoterpenes may have utility as high-performance jet fuel blendstocks or specialized rocket propellants, offering the ability to increase the payload capacity and enhance the mission capability of space-delivery systems. This work further highlights the potential of biosynthetic fuels for high-performance applications.

通过 Simmons-Smith 环丙烷化反应，由生物基单萜（3-蒎烯、蒎烯、α-蒎烯、β-蒎烯、柠檬烯、1,6-二甲基-1,5-环辛二烯和月桂烯）合成了七种不同的高性能燃料. 测量所得多循环燃料混合物的关键燃料特性，包括密度、净燃烧热 (NHOC) 和低温粘度。混合物的密度比传统喷气燃料高 10-16%，体积 NHOC 高 12-16%，同时保持低温 (-20 °C) 粘度低于或接近规格限制。为了评估作为潜在火箭推进剂的燃料，使用 G4 复合方法计算了形成热。然后将这些值用于计算比冲 (I _sp ) 和密度比冲 (dI_sp ) 对于每种燃料混合物。环丙烷化单萜的海平面 I _sp值比常规火箭推进剂 (RP-1) 高 1.2%，dI _sp值比 RP-1 高 4.1%。这项研究的结果表明，环丙烷化单萜可用作高性能喷气燃料混合料或专用火箭推进剂，提供增加有效载荷能力和增强空间输送系统任务能力的能力。这项工作进一步突出了生物合成燃料在高性能应用中的潜力。