Lewis-Pair-Mediated Selective Dimerization and Polymerization of Lignocellulose-Based β-Angelica Lactone into Biofuel and Acrylic Bioplastic

This contribution reports an unprecedentedly efficient dimerization and the first successful polymerization of lignocellulose-based beta-angelica lactone (beta-AL) by utilizing a selective Lewis pair (LP) catalytic system, thereby establishing a versatile bio-refinery platform wherein two products, including a dimer for high-quality gasoline-like biofuel (C-8-C-9 branched alkanes, yield=87 %) and a heat- and solvent-resistant acrylic bioplastic (M-n up to 26.0 kg mol(-1)), can be synthesized from one feedstock by one catalytic system. The underlying reason for exquisite selectivity of the LP catalytic system toward dimerization and polymerization was explored mechanistically.