Mild Redox-Neutral Depolymerization of Lignin with a Binuclear Rh Complex in Water

A mild redox-neutral lignin depolymerization system featuring a water-soluble binuclear Rh complex has been developed. The catalytic system could be successfully applied to the depolymerization of a lignin-like polymer, alkaline lignin, as well as raw lignocellulose samples to produce aromatic ketones, providing a homogeneous catalytic system for lignin-first biorefinery in water. Mechanistic studies on the model substrate suggest that the reaction proceeds via a metal-catalyzed dehydrogenation step to afford a carbonyl intermediate, followed by C-O bond cleavage to afford ketone and phenol products. Deuterium labeling study shows that the hydrogen used for cleavage of the C-O bond originates from the alcohol moiety in the substrate.