title: Photo- and radiation chemical induced degradation of lignin model compounds.
abstract: The basic mechanistic aspects of the photo- and radiation chemistry of lignin model compounds (LMCs) are discussed with respect to important processes related to lignin degradation. Several reactions occur after direct irradiation, photosensitized or radiation chemically induced oxidation of LMCs. Direct irradiation studies on LMCs have provided supportive evidence for the involvement of hydrogen abstraction reactions from phenols, beta-cleavage of substituted alpha-aryloxyacetophenones and cleavage of ketyl radicals (formed by photoreduction of aromatic ketones or hydrogen abstraction from arylglycerol beta-aryl ethers) in the photoyellowing of lignin rich pulps. Photosensitized and radiation chemically induced generation of reactive oxygen species and their reaction with LMCs are reviewed. The side-chain reactivity of LMC radical cations, generated by radiation chemical means, is also discussed in relation with the enzymatic degradation of lignin.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica and Centro CNR di Studio sui Meccanismi di Reazione, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.lastname: Lanzalunga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bietti
mesh_terms: D005609:Free Radicals; D008027:Light; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011827:Radiation; D013481:Superoxides
chemical_list: D005609:Free Radicals; D013481:Superoxides; D008031:Lignin