Selective C–C Bond Cleavage of Methylene-Linked Lignin Models and Kraft Lignin

Biorefinery and paper pulping lignins, referred hereto as technical lignins, contain condensed C–C interunit linkages. These robust C–C linkages with higher bond dissociation energies are difficult to disrupt under hydrogenolysis conditions, which are generally used for cleaving C–O bonds of native lignin in biomass or model C–O linked compounds. Thus, selective interunit C–C cleavage to release aromatic monomers for high-value applications is a challenge. We report an effective catalytic system to cleave such C–C bonds selectively under mild conditions. A representative methylene-linked C–C model dimer achieves 88% yield of mainly two aromatic monomers within 1.5 h at a reasonably low temperature (250 °C) using a commercial CoS2 catalyst. Aromatic monomers convert to nonaromatic products upon the reaction for a prolonged time. The interunit C–C bond of the dimer become unreactive to cleavage upon dehydroxylation of aromatic rings, while the methoxyl group has little effect on the cleavage. β-1 and 5-5 C–C linked model dimers formed demethoxylated hydroxyl dimers as the major products. Depolymerization of a purified kraft lignin fraction yields five aromatic monomers and lower-molecular-weight soluble products. This study opens up the possibility of valorization of technical lignins using inexpensive catalysts.