Erik Zuidema

Cleavage and Diastereoselective Synthesis of Mono- and Dilignol β - O -4 Model Compounds

A short and convenient synthetic pathway affording diastereomerically pure 1,3-dilignols in both their erythro and threo form has been developed. Additionally, H2Ru(CO)(PPh3)3 has been identified as a promising catalyst for the cleavage of lignin model compounds. The greater accessibility of 1,3-dilignols will facilitate future lignin cleavage studies of ruthenium catalysts and other transition metal systems, employing model compounds that closely resemble the β-O-4 linkage within lignin.