Standardization transformation of C-lignin to catechol and propylene

作者：Xiaojun Shen, Zhitong Zhao, Jia‐Long Wen, Jian Zhang, Yi Ji, Guangjin Hou, Yuhe Liao, Chaofeng Zhang, Tong‐Qi Yuan, Feng Wang · 发表于：Nature Communications · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1038/s41467-025-61457-y · 被引用次数：18 · 研究领域：Lignin and Wood Chemistry、Catalysis for Biomass Conversion、Biochemical and biochemical processes

Abstract Standardization transformation of lignin to high-value-added chemicals requires precise control of the reaction process based on the elaborate catalytic strategy design and lignin structure optimization. Here we report the selective and efficient preparation of bio-catechol and bio-propylene from the ideal C-lignin via a one-pot hydrogenolysis-dealkylation cascade catalysis. The optimized catalyst Ni/HY 30 could orderly cleave the corresponding C α/β –OAr bonds and C aryl –C alkyl bonds in the uniform benzodioxane units of C-lignin, which could directionally and selectively provide a 49 mol% yield of catechol and a 45 mol% yield of propylene from C-lignin under 200°C. Further techno-economic analysis and the life-cycle assessment confirmed the potential of this strategy in the CO 2 -neutral preparation of catechol and propylene. In addition, the control experiments, catalyst characterizations, spectra identification, and DFT calculations indicated that the 4-propenylcatechol primarily generated from the selective hydrogenolysis of C-lignin was the critical intermediate for the following dealkylation, and the side chain was delicately deconstructed via the Brönsted acid-mediated protonation, γ-methyl migration and C aryl –C alkyl scission pathway. Finally, the corresponding strategy design based on the concept of standardization transformation and mechanism revelation focusing on the cleavage of critical linkage bonds could provide guidance for further lignin depolyme...