Carbinol addition, formaldehyde

Among the three major types of hydroxyl groups in lignin, the phenolic hydroxyl unit (being most acidic) plays a dominant role in alkali-catalyzed reactions (Fig. 14). The a-hydroxyl group, under acidic conditions, is readily transformed into active bcnzylic carbon cations that may undergo a variety of addition or transformation reactions (Fig. 12). The y-carbinol group, when present in phenolic units, is often released as formaldehyde under either acidic (B, Fig. 12) or alkaline (C, Fig. 14) conditions. 

Methanol me-tho- nol, - nol n [ISV] (1894) (carbi-nol, methyl alcohol, wood alcohol) CH3OH. A colorless, toxic liquid usually obtained by synthesis from hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It is sometimes called wood alcohol, but the methanol obtained from the destructive distillation of wood also contains additional, contaminating compounds. Methanol is used as an intermediate in producing formaldehyde, phenolic, urea, melamine, and acetal resins, and as a solvent for cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate, and polyvinyl butyral. Also known as Methyl Alcohol, Carbinol, Wood Alcohol, Colonial Spirits, and MeOH. Syn Formaldehyde. 

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