title: Metal Triflates for the Production of Aromatics from Lignin.
abstract: The depolymerization of lignin into valuable aromatic chemicals is one of the key goals towards establishing economically viable biorefineries. In this contribution we present a simple approach for converting lignin to aromatic monomers in high yields under mild reaction conditions. The methodology relies on the use of catalytic amounts of easy-to-handle metal triflates (M(OTf)x). Initially, we evaluated the reactivity of a broad range of metal triflates using simple lignin model compounds. More advanced lignin model compounds were also used to study the reactivity of different lignin linkages. The product aromatic monomers were either phenolic C2-acetals obtained by stabilization of the aldehyde cleavage products by reaction with ethylene glycol or methyl aromatics obtained by catalytic decarbonylation. Notably, when the method was ultimately tested on lignin, especially Fe(OTf)3proved very effective and the phenolic C2-acetal products were obtained in an excellent, 19.3±3.2 wt % yield.
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2254-2500
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Deuss
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biomedical Science Research Complex, University of St Andrews and EaStCHEM, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ciaran W
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1794-2921
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lahive
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biomedical Science Research Complex, University of St Andrews and EaStCHEM, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Christopher S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-0138
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lancefield
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biomedical Science Research Complex, University of St Andrews and EaStCHEM, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0630-0138
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Westwood
authors.affiliation: School of Chemistry and Biomedical Science Research Complex, University of St Andrews and EaStCHEM, North Haugh, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9ST, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Paul C J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9115-8844
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kamer
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. k.barta@rug.nl.
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barta
authors.affiliation: Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG, Groningen, The Netherlands. j.g.devries@rug.nl, johannes.devries@catalysis.de.|Leibniz-Insitut für Katalyse e.V. an der, Universität Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Straße 29a, 18059, Rostock, Germany. j.g.devries@rug.nl, johannes.devries@catalysis.de.
authors.forename: Johannes G
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5245-7748
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: de Vries
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry*; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D008031:Lignin
keywords: acidolysis; aromatics; depolymerization; lignin; metal triflates