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Producing aryl halides from lignin

Author

Listed:
  • Yongqian Liu

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Yi Li

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Zhiyang He

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Simeng Wu

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Chunhui Ma

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Wei Li

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Shujun Li

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Zhijun Chen

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Shouxin Liu

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

  • Bing Tian

    (Northeast Forestry University
    Northeast Forestry University)

Abstract

Lignin represents the most abundant biomass resource, which contains aromatic units. Lignin refinery is a promising, sustainable alternative for the production of aromatic chemicals. However, depolymerization and transformation of lignin into aryl halides, which are indispensable chemicals in both the academic and industrial communities, remain challenging. Here, we report a simple and mild method for the depolymerization and halogenation of lignin, leading to the production of useful aryl halides. Notably, hydrogen bond activation for halogenation reagents is essential for substantially increasing the reactivity, resulting a highly efficient cleavage of C–C bonds in lignin. This method is highly selective for breaking C(sp2)–C(sp3) bonds of lignin linkages, enabling the application of precise depolymerization and halogenation reactions from lignin models to native lignin from various wood resources, which provides a sustainable and efficient access to various synthetically useful aryl halides.

Suggested Citation

  • Yongqian Liu & Yi Li & Zhiyang He & Simeng Wu & Chunhui Ma & Wei Li & Shujun Li & Zhijun Chen & Shouxin Liu & Bing Tian, 2025. "Producing aryl halides from lignin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59054-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59054-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Yi Shao & Qineng Xia & Lin Dong & Xiaohui Liu & Xue Han & Stewart F. Parker & Yongqiang Cheng & Luke L. Daemen & Anibal J. Ramirez-Cuesta & Sihai Yang & Yanqin Wang, 2017. "Selective production of arenes via direct lignin upgrading over a niobium-based catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Alireza Rahimi & Arne Ulbrich & Joshua J. Coon & Shannon S. Stahl, 2014. "Formic-acid-induced depolymerization of oxidized lignin to aromatics," Nature, Nature, vol. 515(7526), pages 249-252, November.
    4. Mingyang Liu & Paul J. Dyson, 2023. "Direct conversion of lignin to functionalized diaryl ethers via oxidative cross-coupling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    5. Lin Dong & Yanqin Wang & Yuguo Dong & Yin Zhang & Mingzhu Pan & Xiaohui Liu & Xiaoli Gu & Markus Antonietti & Zupeng Chen, 2023. "Sustainable production of dopamine hydrochloride from softwood lignin," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
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