Effect of Counter Cation on Alkaline Reaction of β-O-4-Type Substructure in Lignin

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the effects of counter cations on the alkaline-induced β-O-4 bond cleavage and further reactions of β-O-4-type substructures in lignin. For this purpose, a non-phenolic β-O-4-type lignin model compound, the erythro isomer of 2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)propane-1,3-diol (veratrylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether), was treated in a 100% water solution or an aqueous methanol, ethanol, or 1,4-dioxane solution containing LiOH, NaOH, or CsOH as an alkaline source at 150 °C. The rates of β-O-4 bond cleavage were in the order of CsOH > NaOH > LiOH in all solvents. This order can rationally be attributed to the strength of the interactions between HO^– and the counter cations. Because Cs⁺ has the lowest positive charge density among the counter cations and hence interacts with HO^– most weakly, HO^– can exert its reactivity most actively in the reactions using CsOH. We also discuss how the counter cations affect the profile of reaction products.

Keywords:

• Alkaline cooking
• alkaline delignification
• alkaline pulping
• alkyl-aryl ether