Lignin can serve as the feedstock for many renewable bio-based chemicals, provided that efficient and selective depolymerisation procedures are developed. Typical challenges in lignin depolymerisation include the heterogeneous, complex nature of the polymer and the tendency upon depolymerization to form reactive intermediates that undergo recondensation reactions. Here, we present some of our recent efforts on selective cleavage of the beta-O-4 ether linkage, the most abundant linkage in native lignin and certain isolated lignins depending on the method of extraction. New catalytic depolymerisation methods can broaden the product slate of renewable functionalized aromatics that can be obtained from lignin, provided that they are complementary in the bonds that are cleaved within lignin and the functional groups that are generated. Examples covered include the alkaline peroxide-mediated cleavage of activated beta-O-4 linkages, a tandem catalytic hydrolysis/scavenging method with using Lewis acids and a Rh-based decarbonylation catalysts and the Ir-catalysed selective dehydrogenation of the primary alcohol of the beta-O-4 linkage followed by depolymerisation through C-C bond cleavage by the retro-aldol reaction. Lignin models compounds have been studied in detail, including by in situ ATR-IR studies, to development the cleavage protocols and gain mechanistic insight and the methods developed have been applied to actual lignin feeds.<br/>

Catalytic beta-O-4 ether cleavage in lignin and lignin models by selective activation, cleavage and scavenging

255th National Meeting (2018)

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