The Aerobic Oxidative Cleavage of Lignin to Produce Hydroxyaromatic Benzaldehydes and Carboxylic Acids via Metal/Bromide Catalysts in Acetic Acid/Water Mixtures

Roughly 30% of all woody plants is composed of lignin. Five different lignin samples, from wood and bagasse, were oxidized in air with a cobalt/manganese/zirconium/bromide (Co/Mn/Zr/Br) catalyst in acetic acid as a function of time, temperature, pressure, and lignin and catalyst concentrations. 18 products were identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The most valuable products from lignin were 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid (vanillic acid), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (syringaldehyde) and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid (syringic acid). 10.9 wt% of the lignin was converted to the aromatic products. By the use of model compounds we demonstrate that 1) the presence of the phenolic functionality on an aromatic ring does inhibit the rate of reaction but that the alkyl group on the ring still does oxidize to the carboxylic acid, 2) that the masking of phenol by acetylation occurs at a reasonable rate in acetic acid, 3) that the alkyl group of the masked phenol does very readily oxidize, 4) that an acetic anhydride/acetic acid mixture is a good oxidation solvent and 5) that a two-step acetylation/oxidation to the carboxylic acid is feasible.