Alkylation of monomeric, dimeric, and polymeric lignin models through carbon-hydrogen activation using Ru-catalyzed Murai reaction

In this study, we have assessed directed carbon-hydrogen activation (CHA) for alkylation of monomeric, dimeric, and polymeric lignin models using Murai's catalyst [RuH₂(CO)(PPh₃)₃]. Based on related work from our laboratory showing that isolated organosolv lignin bears benzylic directing groups ideal for CHA reactions, this approach could offer new methodology for the valorization of biorefinery lignin. Monomeric and dimeric models bearing a keto group at the benzylic position undergo Ru-catalyzed alkylation in good to excellent yield. Similarly, models bearing a benzylic OH group also undergo alkylation via a tandem oxidation/alkylation process enabled by the Ru catalyst. Polymeric models show low levels of functionalization as a result of the poor solubility of the starting polymer. With unsymmetrical models, functionalization occurs first at the least sterically hindered ortho-site, but a subsequent alkylation, leading to disubstituted products can occur at the more sterically hindered site, leading to hexasubstituted arenes. The reaction shows sensitivity to free phenolic OH groups, which appears to reduce the yield in some reactions, and is also a contributing factor to the low yields observed with polymeric lignin models. Combining CHA methodology with lignin isolation technology able to introduce appropriate directing groups for catalytic functionalization will form the basis for improved conversion of lignin to high value chemical products.