Alexandrian Cut in Downstream Lignin Valorization to Yield Novel Plasticizers

Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Ni- and Ni/Pd-Catalyzed Reductive Coupling of Lignin-Derived Aromatics to Access Biobased Plasticizers

Zhi-Ming Su et al.

Summary: Lignin-derived aromatic chemicals are considered as potential substitutes for petrochemical feedstocks, and their applications in producing biobased, less toxic alternatives to phthalate plasticizers are extensively studied. In this study, 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (H), vanillic acid (G), and syringic acid (S) were used to synthesize biaryl dicarboxylate esters through catalytic reductive coupling methods. New catalysts were discovered to achieve the challenging cross-coupling products, and high-throughput experimentation and electrochemical methods were utilized for catalyst screening and yield improvement. The performance of the resulting esters in poly(vinyl chloride) plasticizers was evaluated, and the H-G and G-G derivatives showed advantages over petroleum-based phthalate ester plasticizers.

ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE (2023)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences