Advances in C-O Bond Transformations in Lignin-Derived Compounds for Biofuels Production

Renewable energy sources such as lignocellulosic biomass provide an attractive source of renewable carbon that can be sustainably converted into fuels and chemicals to allow for a reduction in the need for fossil fuels and a net reduction in the amount of CO(2) emitted. This perspective highlights recent advances in catalyst development for the production of biofuels from lignin and lignin-derived model compounds. Recent reports have focused on the direct cleavage of C-O bonds through various catalytic processes including (i) zeolite upgrading, (ii) hydrodeoxygenation, (iii) multiple-step upgrading, and (iv) unsupported, organometallic catalysts for slurry processing. Results show progress toward the potential commercialization of biofuels technologies from lignocellulosic biomass resources.