The conversion of lignin to useful monomeric products in decent yields is one of the last frontiers in biomass conversion. Recent developments have seen a departure from the hammer and tongs approach and are focusing on the low temperature cleavage of the beta-O-4 bond. A number of new methods have been found. We have revisited the acid catalyzed pathway which is leading to monomeric aldehydes that are highly unstable. It is, however, possible to stabilize these aldehydes by acetalisation or by hydrogenation.[1] Other approaches use redox-chemistry to cleave this bond. Thus a number of approaches have been published that allow the isolation in 10-20% yield of single monomeric products. The next question is of course how these monomers are further converted into useful chemicals. We will discuss our recent biocatalytic approaches in which a transamination is a key step on the way from a lignin-derived monomer to an existing pharmaceutical. In addition, we describe our first attempts towards a biocatalytic demethylation of the methoxy groups present in these monomeric compounds.

Making single monomeric building blocks from lignin and theri further conversion into useful products

255th National Meeting (2018)

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