A Series of NiM (M = Ru, Rh, and Pd) Bimetallic Catalysts for Effective Lignin Hydrogenolysis in Water

Mild and Robust Redox-Neutral Pd/C-Catalyzed Lignol β-O-4' Bond Cleavage Through a Low-Energy-Barrier Pathway

A Pd/C catalyzed redox neutral C¢O bond cleavage of 2-aryloxy-1-arylethanols has been developed. The reactions are carried out at 80 °C, in air, using a green solvent system to yield the aryl ketones in near quantitative yields. Addition of catalytic amounts of a hydrogen source to the reaction mixture activates the catalyst to proceed through a low energy barrier pathway. Initial studies support a transfer hydrogenolysis reaction mechanism that proceeds through an initial dehydrogenation followed by an enol adsorption to Pd/C and a reductive C¢O bond cleavage.

Aromatic monomers by in situ conversion of reactive intermediates in the acid-catalyzed depolymerization of lignin

Conversion of lignin into well-defined aromatic chemicals is a highly attractive goal but is often hampered by recondensation of the formed fragments, especially in acidolysis. Here, we describe new strategies that markedly suppress such undesired pathways to result in diverse aromatic compounds previously not systematically targeted from lignin. Model studies established that a catalytic amount of triflic acid is very effective in cleaving the β-O-4 linkage, most abundant in lignin. An aldehyde product was identified as the main cause of side reactions under cleavage conditions. Capturing this unstable compound by reaction with diols and by in situ catalytic hydrogenation or decarbonylation lead to three distinct groups of aromatic compounds in high yields acetals, ethanol and ethyl aromatics, and methyl aromatics. Notably, the same product groups were obtained when these approaches were successfully extended to lignin. In addition, the formation of higher molecular weight side products was markedly suppressed, indicating that the aldehyde intermediates play a significant role in these processes. The described strategy has the potential to be generally applicable for the production of interesting aromatic compounds from lignin.

Metallo-deuteroporphyrin as a biomimetic catalyst for the catalytic oxidation of lignin to aromatics

A series of metallo-deuteroporphyrins derived from hemin were prepared as models of the cytochrome P450 enzyme. With the aid of the highly active Co(II) deuteroporphyrin complex, the catalytic oxidation system was applied for the oxidation of several lignin model compounds, and high yields of monomeric products were obtained under mild reaction conditions. It was found that the modified cobalt deuteroporphyrin that has no substituents at the meso sites but does have the disulfide linkage in the propionate side chains at the β sites exhibited much higher activity and stability than the synthetic tetraphenylporphyrin. The changes in the propionate side chains can divert the reactivity of cobalt deuteroporphyrins from the typical CC bond cleavage to CO bond cleavage. Furthermore, this novel oxidative system can convert enzymolysis lignin into depolymerized products including a significant portion of well-defined aromatic monomers.

Ag–Pd and CuO–Pd nanoparticles in a hydroxyl-group functionalized ionic liquid: synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance

Heteronuclear Ag–Pd and CuO–Pd nanoparticles with a controllable Ag : Pd or Cu : Pd ratio were easily synthesized through thermal decomposition of their acetate salts in a functionalized ionic liquid, [C₂OHmim][NTf₂].

Ultrasonic enhanced synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotube supported Pt–Co bimetallic nanoparticles as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction

Ultrasonic enhanced synthesis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes supported Pt–Co bimetallic nanoparticles as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction.

Isolation of functionalized phenolic monomers through selective oxidation and C-O bond cleavage of the β-O-4 linkages in lignin

Functionalized phenolic monomers have been generated and isolated from an organosolv lignin through a two-step depolymerization process. Chemoselective catalytic oxidation of β-O-4 linkages promoted by the DDQ/tBuONO/O2 system was achieved in model compounds, including polymeric models and in real lignin. The oxidized β-O-4 linkages were then cleaved on reaction with zinc. Compared to many existing methods, this protocol, which can be achieved in one pot, is highly selective, giving rise to a simple mixture of products that can be readily purified to give pure compounds. The functionality present in these products makes them potentially valuable building blocks.

Alloy Cu₃Pt nanoframes through the structure evolution in Cu-Pt nanoparticles with a core-shell construction

Noble metal nanoparticles with hollow interiors and customizable shell compositions have immense potential for catalysis. Herein, we present an unique structure transformation phenomenon for the fabrication of alloy Cu₃Pt nanoframes with polyhedral morphology. This strategy starts with the preparation of polyhedral Cu-Pt nanoparticles with a core-shell construction upon the anisotropic growth of Pt on multiply twinned Cu seed particles, which are subsequently transformed into alloy Cu₃Pt nanoframes due to the Kirkendall effect between the Cu core and Pt shell. The as-prepared alloy Cu₃Pt nanoframes possess the rhombic dodecahedral morphology of their core-shell parents after the structural evolution. In particular, the resulting alloy Cu₃Pt nanoframes are more effective for oxygen reduction reaction but ineffective for methanol oxidation reaction in comparison with their original Cu-Pt core-shell precursors.

Emerging strategies for breaking the 3D amorphous network of lignin

This perspective encompasses the emerging trends and developments for breaking lignin by depolymerization and upgrading to aromatic monomers via deoxygenation, enzymatic oxidation strategies and carbonization.