Synthesis of meta-vinylated guaiacols from lignin-derived monophenols

Abstract

Guaiacol is one of the major platform compounds derived from lignin. In this work, a series of value-added meta-vinylated guaiacols have been successfully synthesized using non-toxic and harmless natural lignin-derived guaiacol and other monophenols as the starting materials. With the assistance of a pyrimidine template, the monophenols were smoothly transferred into meta-vinylated guaiacols under Pd(II)-catalysis. The method also allows gram-scale synthesis, and the template could be easily removed, which provides an efficient method for upgrading lignin depolymerization products into high-value chemicals.