Decomposition of a β-O-4 lignin model compound over solid Cs-substituted polyoxometalates in anhydrous ethanol: acidity or redox property dependence?

ABSTRACT Production of aromatics from lignin has attracted much attention. Because of the coexistence of C–O and C–C bonds and their complex combinations in the lignin macromolecular network, a plausible roadmap for developing a lignin catalytic decomposition process could be developed by exploring the transformation mechanisms of various model compounds. Herein, decomposition of a lignin model compound, 2-phenoxyacetophenone (2-PAP), was investigated over several cesium-exchanged polyoxometalate (Cs-POM) catalysts. Decomposition of 2-PAP can follow two different mechanisms: an active hydrogen transfer mechanism or an oxonium cation mechanism. The mechanism for most reactions depends on the competition between the acidity and redox properties of the catalysts. The catalysts of POMs perform the following functions: promoting active hydrogen liberated from ethanol and causing formation of and then temporarily stabilizing oxonium cations from 2-PAP. The use of Cs-PMo, which with strong redox ability, enhances hydrogen liberation and promotes liberated hydrogen transfer to the reaction intermediates. As a consequence, complete conversion of 2-PAP (>99%) with excellent selectivities to the desired products (98.6% for phenol and 91.1% for acetophenone) can be achieved.