Degradation of beta-O-4 model lignin species by vanadium Schiff-base catalysts: Influence of catalyst structure and reaction conditions on activity and selectivity

作者：Parker Heather J; Chuck Christopher J; Woodman Timothy; Jones Matthew D^*

来源：Catalysis Today, 2016, 269: 40-47.

DOI：10.1016/j.cattod.2015.08.045

• Lignin depolymerization
• Vanadium
• Homogeneous catalysis
• Model compound

In the pursuit of value-added products from the degradation of the abundant aromatic biopolymer lignin, homogeneous catalysis has the potential to provide a mild, selective route to monomeric phenols. Homogeneous vanadium catalysts have previously been shown to effectively cleave dimeric beta-O-4 model lignin compounds, with selectivity for C-C or C-O cleavage, or benzylic oxidation, depending on the ligand structure and oxidation state of the metal. In this study, a systematic kinetic investigation was undertaken in order to gain further understanding of the role of ligand structure and reaction conditions on the activity of vanadium Schiff-base catalysts towards a non-phenolic beta-O-4 model lignin dimer, and the selectivity of these species towards C-O bond cleavage. Catalytic activity was found to be increased by the addition of bulky, alkyl substituents at the 3'-position of the phenolate ring, whereas electron withdrawing substituents were found to dramatically reduce activity irrespective of their size. Selective depolymerization of a phenolic beta-O-4 dimer was also achieved.

• 出版日期2016-7-1