Cleave and couple: toward fully sustainable catalytic conversion of lignocellulose to value added building blocks and fuels

Abstract

The structural complexity of lignocellulose offers unique opportunities for the development of entirely new, energy efficient and waste-free pathways in order to obtain valuable bio-based building blocks. Such sustainable catalytic methods - specifically tailored to address the efficient conversion of abundant renewable starting materials - are necessary to successfully compete, in the future, with fossil-based multi-step processes. In this contribution we give a summary of recent developments in this field and describe our "cleave and couple" strategy, where "cleave" refers to the catalytic deconstruction of lignocellulose to aromatic and aliphatic alcohol intermediates, and "couple" involves the development of novel, sustainable transformations for the formation of C-C and C-N bonds in order to obtain a range of attractive products from lignocellulose.

From Wood to Tetrahydro-2-benzazepines in Three Waste-Free Steps: Modular Synthesis of Biologically Active Lignin-Derived Scaffolds

“…The platform chemicals originating from the most prominent mild depolymerization methods maintain, at least partly, the complexity of the parent lignin (Figure 1a). 3 Thus, transforming these to bulk chemicals (e.g., phenol, catechol, or BTX) necessitates further defunctionalization steps via energy-intensive C–O and C–C bond cleavage reactions. 19 In contrast, when targeting pharmaceutically relevant compounds, the whole array of intrinsic functionality available in these platform chemicals could be utilized.…”

Aldehydes-Aided Lignin-First Deconstruction Strategy for Facilitating Lignin Monomers and Fermentable Glucose Production from Poplar Wood

“…Firstly, the aromatic monomer could be utilized as platform chemicals. Secondly, the lignin monomers could be further converted to aniline derivatives via dehydrogenation and amination reactions, which are chemicals suited for accomplishing transformations toward value-added products [43]. Finally, these monomers could be applied as polymer building blocks, such as epoxy thermosets, polycarbonates, cyanate ester resins, and emerging diverse bio-based polymers [44].…”

A new concept for total components conversion of lignocellulosic biomass: a promising direction for clean and sustainable production in its bio‐refinery

“…In recent decades, ‘total components conversion’ of lignocellulosic biomass which emphasizes the efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass resources is a revolutionary concept in chemical engineering. Therefore, the research on this concept has developed quickly and most researchers have tried to solve the issue of ‘total components conversion’ of lignocellulosic biomass from a chemical angle with the method of ‘separation of different components in lignocellulosic biomass first and then transformation of these components respectively’ . Specifically, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin should be separated, and then these three components can be converted into various products.…”

“…Therefore, the research on this concept has developed quickly and most researchers have tried to solve the issue of 'total components conversion' of lignocellulosic biomass from a chemical angle with the method of 'separation of different components in lignocellulosic biomass first and then transformation of these components respectively'. [86][87][88][89] Specifically, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin should be separated, and then these three components can be converted into various products. Undoubtedly, this is an important breakthrough in biomass chemical engineering.…”