The Williams lab has been investigating the utility of highly Lewis acidic boron centers for the activation and cleavage of alkyl ethers and in halogen exchange reactions of trifluoromethylarenes. These practical methods have important applications in medicinal and agricultural chemistry, but also in sustainable chemistry development, such as the mild separation of cellulose and hemicellulose from lignocellulose, leaving lignin-rich solids. Because of the mildness of the reaction (low temperature, minimal oxidizing potential), the lignin-rich solids are expected to have minimal condensation/cross-polymerization, and preliminary data supports this supposition. This talk will examine the development and utility of such boron-mediated methodologies, and will discuss the characterization of the products of this separation protocol.

Using boron Lewis acids to enable mild lignocellulose separation

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.