Selective Cleavage of C-O Bonds in Lignin Catalyzed by Rhenium(VII) Oxide (Re2 O7 ).

The selective cleavage of C-O bonds in typical model lignin β-O-4 compounds and deconstruction of a realistic lignin feedstock catalyzed by Re2 O7 is described. High yields of C-O cleavage products (up to 97.8 %) from model compounds and oils (76.3 %) from organosolv pinewood lignin were obtained under mild conditions. Evidence for the pathway of this catalytic process is also provided.