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Selective Utilization of the Methoxy Group in Lignin to Produce Acetic Acid
Author(s) -
Mei Qingqing,
Liu Huizhen,
Shen Xiaojun,
Meng Qinglei,
Liu Hangyu,
Xiang Junfeng,
Han Buxing
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201706846
Subject(s) - organosolv , lignin , acetic acid , chemistry , organic chemistry , kraft paper , raw material , selectivity , pulp and paper industry , catalysis , engineering
Selective transformation of lignin into a valuable chemical is of great importance and challenge owing to its complex structure. Herein, we propose a strategy for the transformation of methoxy group (‐OCH 3 ) which is abundant in lignin into pure highly valuable chemicals. As an example to apply this strategy, a route to produce acetic acid with high selectivity by conversion of methoxy group of lignin was developed. It was demonstrated that the methoxy group in lignin could react with CO and water to generate acetic acid over RhCl 3 in the presence of a promoter. The conversions of methoxy group in the kraft lignin and organosolv lignin reached 87.5 % and 80.4 %, respectively, and no by‐product was generated. This work opens the way to produce pure chemicals using lignin as the feedstock.