title: Efficient cobalt-catalyzed oxidative conversion of lignin models to benzoquinones.
abstract: Phenolic lignin model monomers and dimers representing the primary substructural units of lignin were successfully oxidized to benzoquinones in high yield with molecular oxygen using new Co-Schiff base catalysts bearing a bulky heterocyclic nitrogen base as a substituent. This is the first example of a catalytic system able to convert both S and G lignin model phenols in high yield, a process necessary for effective use of lignin as a chemical feedstock.
authors.affiliation: Center for Renewable Carbon, Center for the Catalytic Conversion of Biomass (C3Bio), University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37917, USA.
authors.forename: Berenger
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Biannic
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bozell
mesh_terms: D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003035:Cobalt / Q000737:chemistry*; D008031:Lignin / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010636:Phenols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012545:Schiff Bases / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D016227:Benzoquinones; D010636:Phenols; D012545:Schiff Bases; D003035:Cobalt; D008031:Lignin