Peracetic Acid Depolymerization of Biorefinery Lignin for Production of Selective Monomeric Phenolic Compounds

Lignin is the largest source of renewable material with an aromatic skeleton. However, due to the recalcitrant and heterogeneous nature of the lignin polymer, it has been a challenge to effectively depolymerize lignin and produce high‐value chemicals with high selectivity. In this study, a highly efficient lignin‐to‐monomeric phenolic compounds (MPC) conversion method based on peracetic acid (PAA) treatment was reported. PAA treatment of two biorefinery lignin samples, diluted acid pretreated corn stover lignin (DACSL) and steam exploded spruce lignin (SESPL), led to complete solubilization and production of selective hydroxylated monomeric phenolic compounds (MPC‐H) and monomeric phenolic acid compounds (MPC‐A) including 4‐hydroxy‐2‐methoxyphenol, p‐hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and 3,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid. The maximized MPC yields obtained were 18 and 22 % based on the initial weight of the lignin in SESPL and DACSL, respectively. However, we found that the addition of niobium pentoxide catalyst to PAA treatment of lignin can significantly improve the MPC yields up to 47 %. The key reaction steps and main mechanisms involved in this new lignin‐to‐MPC valorization pathway were investigated and elucidated.     

Phenolic resins bearing maleimide groups: Synthesis and characterization

Novel phenolic novolac resins, bearing maleimide groups and capable of undergoing curing principally through the addition polymerization of these groups, were synthesized by the polymerization of a mixture of phenol and N‐(4‐hydroxy phenyl)maleimide (HPM) with formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. The polymerization conditions were optimized to get gel‐free resins. The resins were characterized by chemical, spectral, and thermal analyses. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis revealed an unexpected two‐stage curing for these systems. Although the cure at around 275°C was attributable to the addition polymerization reaction of the maleimide groups, the exotherm at around 150 to 170°C was ascribed to the condensation reaction of the methylol groups formed in minor quantities on the phenyl ring of HPM. Polymerization studies of non‐hydroxy‐functional N‐phenyl maleimides revealed that the phenyl groups of these molecules were activated toward an electrophilic substitution reaction by the protonated methylol intermediates formed by the acid‐catalyzed reaction of phenol and formaldehyde. On a comparative scale, HPM was less reactive than phenol toward formaldehyde. The presence of the phenolic group on N‐phenyl maleimide was not needed for its copolymerization with phenol and formaldehyde. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 641–652, 2000     

Theoretical investigation on the reaction mechanisms of O2-initiated gas-phase oxidation of lignin model compounds

Transforming renewable lignin into high value-added chemicals is a forward-looking strategy to address the resource waste caused by insufficient utilization of biomass resources. On this basis, studying the efficient conversion of lignin to aldehydes/acids and their reaction mechanisms has become an attractive topic. A systematic investigation of the gas-phase oxidation reaction mechanisms of the three model compounds initiated by O₂ was carried out at the atomic and molecular levels by using density functional theory (DFT). Further revealing of oxidation behavior on two reaction sites of phenolic hydroxyl group and hydroxymethyl group were accomplished in detail. The potential energy surface information of 21 possible reaction channels of two pathways were obtained at B3LYP/6-311+G(d,p) level. The influence of substituent effects on the reaction energy barrier was estimated. The calculation results showed that the reactivity of phenolic hydroxyl group is stronger than that of hydroxymethyl group, because the reaction Gibbs potential barriers are lower by about 4.9–8.7 kcal/mol. The reaction energy barriers on phenolic hydroxyl group site and hydroxymethyl group site decrease with the increase of the number of methoxy groups. Revealing the oxidation processes of lignin model compounds will provide a deeper understanding on the reaction mechanism and provide theoretical support for further experimental research on the conversion of lignin into high value-added chemicals.     

Degradation of Lignin Model Compounds in Organic Solvents. Part 1. Preliminary Studies

Preliminary studies were conducted on the degradation of guaiacylglycerol-β-aryl ether (β-O-4′), phenylcoumaran (β-5′) and biphenyl (5–5′) type lignin model compounds in the organic solvent systems such as ethanol-water (1:1, v/v) and 2-butanone-water (1:1, v/v), in the presence of a di- or trivalent inorganic salt to act as a Lewis acid in the temperature range 140–170°C and with a reaction time up to 60 minutes. The inorganic salts investigated include aluminum chloride, aluminum sulfate, ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, and stannic chloride. The results indicate that lignin model compounds of both phenolic and non-phenolicβ-O-4′ types are susceptible to degradation in organic solvent systems in the presence of one of these salts. Stannic chloride was found to be the most suitable catalyst for the degradation of β-O-4′ type lignin model compounds in the organic solvent systems. In contrast, lignin model compounds of β-5′ and 5–5′ types did not undergo degradation under the same reaction conditions. A possible reaction mechanism for the degradation of β-O-4′ type lignin model compounds in organic solvent system in the presence of stannic chloride is discussed.     

Kinetik der Bromierung von Phenolen und phenolischen Mehrkernverbindungen, 5. Mitt.

The kinetics of the bromination of six differently substituted 2,6-bis(hydroxybenzyl)phenols having only one reactivepara position at the phenolic unit in the middle of the molecule were studied in acetic acid at 22°C. The reaction rate decreases if intramolecular hydrogen bonds between one or two hydroxy groups of the adjacent phenolic units and the hydroxy group of the reacting unit become possible, and it is especially low, if these hydrogen bonds are directed to the middle by bulky substituents inortho position. This must be explained by a smaller +M-effect of the hydroxy group of the reacting unit. A kinetic isotope effect is observed in deutero acetic acid, where the reaction rate is decreased by the same amount for compounds with and without intramolecular hydrogen bonds.

     

Lignin,a biomass crosslinker,in a shape memory polycaprolactone network

This work reports a new direction of natural lignin valorization, which utilizes lignin to produce crosslinked polycaprolactone (PCL) via a straightforward synthesis. Lignin's hydroxyl groups of its multibranched phenolic structure allow lignin to serve as crosslinkers, whereas the aromatic groups serve as hard segments. The modified natural lignin containing alkene terminals is crosslinked with a thiol‐terminal PCL via Ru‐catalyzed photoredox thiol‐ene reaction. The high rate of gel contents measured for all crosslinked polymers, with the least being 84% of gel content, indicates efficient crosslinking. The prepared flat rectangular shape lignin‐crosslinked PCL sample demonstrates rapid thermal responsive shape memory behavior at 10 °C and 80 °C showing interconversion between a permanent and temporary shape. The melting temperature of the lignin‐crosslinked PCL is tunable by varying the percent weight of lignin. The 11, 21, and 30 wt % lignin demonstrated T_m of 42 °C, 35 °C, and 26 °C, respectively. The role of lignin as a crosslinker presented in this work suggests that lignin can serve as an efficient biomass‐based functional additive to polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019, 57, 2121–2130     

Bio-based vinylphenol family: Synthesis via decarboxylation of naturally occurring cinnamic acids and living radical polymerization for functionalized polystyrenes

A series of bio-based vinylphenols or hydroxystyrenes is prepared by simple decarboxylation of various naturally occurring cinnamic acids such as o-, m-, and p-coumaric; caffeic; ferulic; and sinapinic acids, which possess hydroxy groups and other substituents at different positions on the aromatic ring. After protection of the phenolic moieties with trialkylsilyl groups, reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization is accomplished with cumyl dithiobenzoate to afford various bio-based hydroxyl-protected polystyrenes with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. Subsequent deprotection of the silyl groups under mild conditions results in a series of well-defined functionalized polystyrenes possessing different numbers (mono-, di-, tri-) of hydroxy groups at different positions (o, m, p). The obtained functionalized polystyrenes show unique thermal properties depending on the substituents, and those with phenol and catechol groups serve as reducing agents for silver ions. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 58, 91–100     

Investigations on the Crosslinking Reactions of Melamine Resins in the Presence of Wood

The crosslinking behavior of MFRs (melamine formaldehyde resins) in the presence of wood was investigated. The influence of various factors (wood content, resin structure, etc.) on the crosslinking temperature of the resins was examined using DMTA and DSC/TGA. Fully methylated MFRs turned out to be more stable in the presence of wood than partially methylated MFRs. A dependence of the crosslinking temperature on the wood content was found. Model reactions with wood components demonstrated, that cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin affect the crosslinking temperature to different extends, whereas hemicelluloses (xylan) showed the strongest effect. Solvents, especially water, led to a further decrease of the crosslinking temperature of wood/MFR compounds.     

Investigations on the Crosslinking Reactions of Melamine Resins in the Presence of Wood

Summary. The crosslinking behavior of MFRs (melamine formaldehyde resins) in the presence of wood was investigated. The influence of various factors (wood content, resin structure, etc.) on the crosslinking temperature of the resins was examined using DMTA and DSC/TGA. Fully methylated MFRs turned out to be more stable in the presence of wood than partially methylated MFRs. A dependence of the crosslinking temperature on the wood content was found. Model reactions with wood components demonstrated, that cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin affect the crosslinking temperature to different extends, whereas hemicelluloses (xylan) showed the strongest effect. Solvents, especially water, led to a further decrease of the crosslinking temperature of wood/MFR compounds.     

Synthesis anti‐fungal and anti‐bacterial screening of 3‐phenyl‐1,4,5‐trihydro‐pyrazol and 2, 4‐dihydro[ 1,2,4]‐triazol‐3‐one derivatives of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran

4‐Hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐carboxaldehydes 2a‐d are prepared from 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyrans 1a‐d via the Vielsmeyer Haack reaction. The 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐3‐(3′oxo‐3′‐phenylprop‐1′‐enyl)‐2H‐1‐benzopyrans 3a‐d are obtained from 2a‐d via the Claisen reaction. Refluxing compounds 3a‐d with hydrazine hydrate gave the 3‐phenyl‐5‐(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐1,4,5‐trihydropyra‐zols 4a‐d . Stirring compounds 2a‐d with semicarbazide hydrochloride in acidic medium gave the 4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐aldehyde‐semicarbazone 5a‐d , which on cyclisation with ferric chloride hexahydrate gave the 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐3‐yl)‐2,4‐dihydro[1,2,4]triazol‐3‐ones 6a‐d . All these compounds show significant antibacterial activities.     

木质素酚类单体化合物制备烷烃燃料

通过引入中间小分子化合物,采用傅克烷基化反应,实现了从木质素酚类单体化合物制备长链烷烃燃料.考察了催化剂、醛酮类小分子化合物、反应时间、反应温度、物料比、底物等条件对从木质素酚类单体制备二聚体反应结果的影响,并对得到的木质素酚类二聚体产物进一步加氢还原,得到C_13~19烷烃燃料.结果表明,当物料比n(木质素酚类单体)/n(醛酮类中间小分子)为15:3,以Amberlyst-15为酸性催化剂,在100 ℃的条件下,反应24 h,可以得到68%产率的二聚体化合物(当底物是愈创木酚和丙醛时).将得到的二聚体化合物在270 ℃,4 MPa H₂的不锈钢反应釜中进行加氢反应,3 h后,二聚体化合物完全转化为液体烷烃.提出从木质素单体出发通过引入中间小分子,实现C-C链增长来制备烷烃燃料的合成路线,为木质素的开发和应用提出了新思路与实验基础.     

Ultra‐high performance supercritical fluid chromatography of lignin‐derived phenols from alkaline cupric oxide oxidation

Traditional chromatographic methods for the analysis of lignin‐derived phenolic compounds in environmental samples are generally time consuming. In this work, an ultra‐high performance supercritical fluid chromatography method with a diode array detector for the analysis of major lignin‐derived phenolic compounds produced by alkaline cupric oxide oxidation was developed. In an analysis of a collection of 11 representative monomeric lignin phenolic compounds, all compounds were clearly separated within 6 min with excellent peak shapes, with a limit of detection of 0.5–2.5 μM, a limit of quantification of 2.5–5.0 μM, and a dynamic range of 5.0–2.0 mM (R² > 0.997). The new ultra‐high performance supercritical fluid chromatography method was also applied for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of lignin‐derived phenolic compounds obtained upon alkaline cupric oxide oxidation of a commercial humic acid. Ten out of the previous eleven model compounds could be quantified in the oxidized humic acid sample. The high separation power and short analysis time obtained demonstrate for the first time that supercritical fluid chromatography is a fast and reliable technique for the analysis of lignin‐derived phenols in complex environmental samples.     

A Novel Diastereoselective Synthesis of 6‐Aryl‐5‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dihydropyrano[2,3‐c]pyrazol‐4(1H)‐ones

A novel one‐pot diastereoselective synthesis of trans‐6‐aryl‐5‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dihydro[2,3‐c]pyrazol‐4(1H)‐ones 3a , 3b , 3c , 3d , 3e , 3f , 3g , 3h is described via the Darzens condensation reaction of 2‐chloro‐1‐(5‐hydroxy‐3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)ethanone ( 2 ) with different aromatic aldehydes in aqueous basic medium. The structures of the compounds prepared were determined by analytical and spectral analyses.     

Enzymatic degradation of Lignin-Carbohydrate complex (part I)

Initial steps in an early metabolic pathway of biodegradation of lignin by white-rot fungus are very important for application of biotechnology to the utilization of biomass; for example, enzymatic pretreatment for ethanol production from plant resources and biological pulping. Lignins in woody plants exist as giant high molecular weight compounds bounded with carbohydrates, mainly hemicelluloses at middle lamella and in secondary cell wall, and show resistance against the invasion of general microorganisms other than wood-rotting fungi and also against enzymatic digestion of cellulose. We assumed that white-rot fungi first attack the lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) and then decompose to some degree into oligomers of lignin and hemicellulose by an unknown enzymatic reaction. The study began with a screening of the fungus, which grew well on the LCC medium. LCCs were prepared from wood meal ofPicea jezoensis that had been extracted MWL, by the method of Koshijima (1). Six fungi (2) that grew well on the media containing decayed lignin were inoculated on agar media of LCC. After 3 d cultivation, the fungiGanoderma sp. andPoria subacida showed most growth on the medium. Crude enzyme preparations were made from decayed wood meal media with each fungus. Chromatographic detection of decomposed compounds from LCC, which is soluble in hot water, by each enzyme and Meicelase fromTricoderma viride, suggest that the wood-rotting fungus may contain another enzyme able to liberate a phenolic compound from LCC besides the enzymes ofTricoderma viride.     

Isolation of Functionalized Phenolic Monomers through Selective Oxidation and CO Bond Cleavage of the β‐O‐4 Linkages in Lignin

Functionalized phenolic monomers have been generated and isolated from an organosolv lignin through a two‐step depolymerization process. Chemoselective catalytic oxidation of β‐O‐4 linkages promoted by the DDQ/tBuONO/O₂ system was achieved in model compounds, including polymeric models and in real lignin. The oxidized β‐O‐4 linkages were then cleaved on reaction with zinc. Compared to many existing methods, this protocol, which can be achieved in one pot, is highly selective, giving rise to a simple mixture of products that can be readily purified to give pure compounds. The functionality present in these products makes them potentially valuable building blocks.     

Isolation of Functionalized Phenolic Monomers through Selective Oxidation and C?O Bond Cleavage of the β‐O‐4 Linkages in Lignin

Functionalized phenolic monomers have been generated and isolated from an organosolv lignin through a two‐step depolymerization process. Chemoselective catalytic oxidation of β‐O‐4 linkages promoted by the DDQ/tBuONO/O₂ system was achieved in model compounds, including polymeric models and in real lignin. The oxidized β‐O‐4 linkages were then cleaved on reaction with zinc. Compared to many existing methods, this protocol, which can be achieved in one pot, is highly selective, giving rise to a simple mixture of products that can be readily purified to give pure compounds. The functionality present in these products makes them potentially valuable building blocks.     

Synthesis of 2,5‐Disubstituted Derivatives of Pyrano[2,3‐d][1,3]thiazines via the Interaction of 2‐Substituted 4‐Hydroxy‐6H‐1,3‐thiazine‐6‐ones with Aldehydes

A new and efficient route for the synthesis of derivatives of the poorly investigated pyrano[2,3‐d][1,3]thiazine heterocyclic system is disclosed. These compounds were prepared via annulation of 2‐aryl‐4‐hydroxy‐6H‐1,3‐thiazine‐6‐ones with aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of pyridine. The method is general and versatile, and the interaction is independent on the nature of the aldehyde, the only exceptions being formaldehyde and salicylaldehydes.     

Stereochemie und Mechanismus derPrins-Reaktion bei ausgeprägter Ladungsdelokalisierung im intermediären Carbeniumion

A detailed investigation of the reaction of 2.6-dimethyl-4-propenylphenol with formaldehyde showed thatPrins reactions of hydroxystyrenes in alkaline medium in most cases are kinetically controlled. By attack of formaldehyde, the same intermediate is generated from eithercis ortrans olefin. On further reaction by two independent pathways a 1.3-diol is formed by attack of a hydroxyl ion, or a 1.3-dioxane by reaction with additional formaldehyde via a hemiacetal. The steric course of the reaction is deduced from a discussion of the conformations of transition states.Prins reactions of arylolefins carrying strong +M-substituents proceed analogously under acylating conditions (e.g. in acetic acid) in weak acidic medium.

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Synthesis of 5‐aryl and 5‐amidocamptothecins

A variety of 5‐aryl‐(20S)‐camptothecin derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of 5‐hydroxy‐(20S)‐camptothecin with aromatic hydrocarbons under Friedel‐Craft reaction conditions in moderate to good yield as diastereomeric pairs. The methodology was then extended for the synthesis of 5‐amido‐(20S)‐camptothecin derivatives by reacting 5‐hydroxy‐(20S)‐camptothecin with alkyl and aryl nitriles under Ritter type reaction conditions. The reaction is presumed to proceed through an iminium ion intermediate under Friedel Craft and Ritter type reaction condition, which is further trapped by nucleophile present in the reaction medium. J. Heterocyclic Chem., 00 , 00 (2011).     

Laccase‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Low‐Molecular‐Weight Lignin‐Like Oligomers and their Application as UV‐Blocking Materials

The laccase‐catalyzed oxidative polymerization of monomeric and dimeric lignin model compounds was carried out with oxygen as the oxidant in aqueous medium. The oligomers were characterized by using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI‐TOF MS) analysis. Oxidative polymerization led to the formation of oligomeric species with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) that ranged from 700 to 2300 Da with a low polydispersity index. Spectroscopic analysis provided insight into the possible modes of linkages present in the oligomers, and the oligomerization is likely to proceed through the formation of C?C linkages between phenolic aromatic rings. The oligomers were found to show good UV light absorption characteristics with high molar extinction coefficient (5000–38 000 m ^?1 cm^?1) in the UV spectral region. The oligomers were blended independently with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by using solution blending to evaluate the compatibility and UV protection ability of the oligomers. The UV/Vis transmittance spectra of the oligomer‐embedded PVC films indicated that these lignin‐like oligomers possessed a notable ability to block UV light. In particular, oligomers obtained from vanillyl alcohol and the dimeric lignin model were found to show good photostability in accelerated UV weathering experiments. The UV‐blocking characteristics and photostability were finally compared with the commercial low‐molecular‐weight UV stabilizer 2,4‐dihydroxybenzophenone.