Abstract
As part of a program to develop the organic chemistry of biomass-derived materials, we have investigated the oxidation of phenolics chosen to model similar units present in lignin, a highly underutilized source of renewable carbon, to benzoquinones. Oxidation of phenolics without substitution in the position para to the hydroxyl group is a well-known method for the synthesis of quinonoidcompounds. However, the phenolic units present in lignin normally contain carbon substituents para to the hydroxyl, which must be selectively cleaved for a successful quinone synthesis. Oxygen-activating metal complexes are found to oxidize a series of lignin models to the corresponding quinon. Syringaldehyde (2,6-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) is converted to 2, 6-dimethoxybenzoquinone in 85%yield in the presence of Co (salen) and O2 (50 psi) in MeOH. Oxidation of other para-substituted phenols is also described.
| Original language | American English |
|---|---|
| Pages | Vol. 2: 361-368 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| State | Published - 1991 |
| Event | Appita 1991: 6th International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry (ISPWC) - Melbourne, Australia Duration: 29 Apr 1991 → 4 May 1991 |
Conference
| Conference | Appita 1991: 6th International Symposium on Wood and Pulping Chemistry (ISPWC) |
|---|---|
| City | Melbourne, Australia |
| Period | 29/04/91 → 4/05/91 |
Bibliographical note
Cosponsored by: APPITA, TAPPI, CPPA Technical Section, EUCEPA, Japan TAPPI, IPPTA, Royal Australian Chemical Institute and Nauchno-Technicheskoe Obshestvo (SSSR).NREL Publication Number
- SERI/CP-234-4235
