A New Approach Towards the Yellowing Inhibition of Mechanical Pulps. Part I: Selective Removal of α-Hydroxyl and α-Carbonyl Groups in Lignin Model Compounds

Abstract

Summary The α-hydroxyl group in lignin model compounds 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)-1,3-propanediol (1) and 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethanol (3), and the α-carbonyl group in 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethan-1-one (5) are removed by treatment of the model compounds with trifluoroacetic acid (CF3CO OH) and triethylsilane (Et3sih) in methylene chloride. The reaction is highly chemoselective and it tolerates the lignin γ-hydroxyl group, phenol and β-O-4-aryl ether linkage. The α-hydroxyl group in 1 has also been removed with triethylsilane in aqueous trifluoroacetic acid (CF3CO OH : H2o = 75 : 25). The combination of trifluoroacetic acid and sodium borohydride, or sodium triacetoxyborohydride, is also effective in removing the α-carbonyl group in 5 and the α-hydroxyl group in lignin model compound 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-(2-methoxyphenoxy)ethanol (7) and in milled wood lignin. The selective removal of the lignin α-hydroxyl and α-carbonyl groups may potentially be used, in conjunction with the protection of the lignin phenol, to inhibit the light and/or heat-induced yellowing of mechanical pulps.