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Copper Catalysts for Selective CC Bond Cleavage of β‐O‐4 Lignin Model Compounds
Author(s) -
Sedai Baburam,
Baker R. Tom
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
advanced synthesis and catalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.541
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1615-4169
pISSN - 1615-4150
DOI - 10.1002/adsc.201400463
Subject(s) - chemistry , catalysis , bond cleavage , selectivity , aldehyde , lignin , aryl , copper , organic chemistry , alcohol oxidation , ether , alcohol , medicinal chemistry , alkyl
The reactivity of homogeneous copper catalysts towards the selective CC bond cleavage of both phenolic and non‐phenolic arylglycerol β‐aryl ether lignin model compounds has been explored. Several copper precursors, nitrogen ligands, and solvents were evaluated in order to optimize the catalyst system. Using the optimized catalyst system, copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate [Cu(OTf)]/L/TEMPO (L=2,6‐lutidine, TEMPO=2,2,6,6‐tetramethyl‐piperidin‐1‐yl‐oxyl), aerobic oxidation of the non‐phenolic β‐O‐4 lignin model compound proceeded with good selectivity for C α C β bond cleavage, affording 3,5‐dimethoxybenzaldehyde as the major product. Aerobic oxidation of the corresponding phenolic β‐O‐4 lignin model proceeded with different selectivity, affording 2,6‐dimethoxybenzoquinone and α,β‐unsaturated aldehyde products resulting from cleavage of the C α C aryl bond. At low catalyst concentrations, however, a change in selectivity was observed as oxidation of the benzylic secondary alcohol predominated with both substrates.