Production of Fine Chemicals by Selective TEMPO-Oxidation of Lignin Models

Lignin, an important aromatic biopolymer, is a major component of biomass. As a promising alternative to fossil resource1, lignin has attracted much attention in recent years. It is considered to be the unique renewable aromatic resource and therefore represents a potentially valuablefeedstock for the production of organic fine chemicals2. Because of the complex and variable starting material, the valorization of lignin are often proceed through model compounds withβ-O-4linkage, which represents the most common substructure inlignin3. Herein we report the production of aldehydes by selective oxidation of 1° aliphatic alcoholin model compounds. TEMPO-mediated oxidation system, which composed by TEMPO (10% mol, TEMPO= 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl) in combination with KBr (10% mol) and NaClO, was found effectively converting the primary hydroxyl groups of dilignols to carboxyl groups followed by retro-aldol bond cleavage.This catalyst system can also be applied for other lignin model compounds andorganosolv lignin.