Patent ID: 9359391
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: C07B,C07G,C08H

Claim Text:
1. A method to cleave C—C and C—O bonds in β-O-4 linkages in lignin or lignin sub-units, the method comprising: (a) oxidizing at least a portion of secondary benzylic alcohol groups in (β-O-4 linkages in the lignin or lignin sub-unit to corresponding ketones, resulting in an oxidized lignin or lignin sub-unit, wherein step (a) comprises contacting the lignin or lignin sub-unit with a catalyst comprising nitric acid (HNO (b) cleaving C—O or C—C bonds in the oxidized lignin or lignin sub-unit by reacting it with reagent selected from the group consisting of organic carboxylic acids, salts of organic carboxylic acids, and esters of organic carboxylic acids, for a time and a temperature at which at least a portion of β-O-4 linkages in the oxidized lignin or lignin sub-unit are cleaved.