title: Cleaving the β--O--4 bonds of lignin model compounds in an acidic ionic liquid, 1-H-3-methylimidazolium chloride: an optional strategy for the degradation of lignin.
abstract: The hydrolysis of β--O--4 bonds in two lignin model compounds was studied in an acidic ionic liquid, 1-H-3-methylimidazolium chloride. The β--O--4 bonds of both guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether and veratrylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether underwent catalytic hydrolysis to produce guaiacol as the primary product with more than 70 % yield at 150 °C. Up to 32 wt % substrate concentration could be treated in the system without a decrease in guaiacol production. The ionic liquid could be reused without loss of activity in guaiacol production from both guaiacylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether and veratrylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether. A possible mechanism accounting for the guaiacol production is presented.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, 158 Zhongshan Road, Dalian, Liaoning 116012, PR China.
authors.forename: Songyan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Blair J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Xinwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Z Conrad
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ekerdt
mesh_terms: D006868:Hydrolysis; D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D052578:Ionic Liquids; D008031:Lignin