Work

Photocatalytic Conversion of β-O-4 Lignin Model Dimers: The Effect of Benzylic Ketones on Reaction Pathway

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The conversion of biomass towards value-added and platform chemicals has become the focus of extensive research these past two decades. One of the methods that has been increasingly studied is the use of semiconductor-mediated photocatalysis for biomass conversion. Titanium dioxide has previously been demonstrated to be an effective commercial catalyst for the cleavage of bonds within lignin and also cellulose and hemicellulose. Described herein is the deployment of TiO2 for the cleavage of bonds within two β-O-4 lignin model compounds, one bearing a ketone in the α-position and the other an alcohol. The presence of a ketone in the benzylic position in one of the models had a pronounced effect under photolytic conditions, e.g., in the absence of a photocatalyst but with irradiation present. The subsequent reduction of the benzylic ketone resulted in observed sensitivity towards the irradiation and solely photocatalytic conversion was achieved. In addition, reaction products are proposed, which demonstrate a feasible method for β-O-4 cleavage in native lignin extracts.

Source: Catalysts

DOI: 10.3390/catal15060525

Authors: Gary. N. Sheldrake, Nathan Skillen, Peter. K. J. Robertson, Christopher W. J. Murnaghan

Institutions: Queen's University Belfast, Heriot-Watt University, Edge Hill University

Language: English

Topic: Lignin and Wood Chemistry

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,654