Hydrolysis of the ether bond

Azo coupling reactions with phenol ethers give in some cases the expected arylazo-phenol ether. In others, however, hydrolysis of the ether bond is observed and the arylazophenol is isolated. This ambiguity has, to the best of our knowledge, never been investigated systematically. 

Alkaline hydrolysis of lignin increases the number of reactive benzylic hydroxyl groups and may also be important in further depolymerizing the lignin once the oxidative-cleavage reaction has occurred. The formation of a p-electron-withdrawing -CHO substituent on aryl lignin units should increase the rate of hydrolysis of the ether bonds (26). Hydrolysis also forms p-phenylate ions, which then protect the benzaldehyde from further reaction via the Cannizzaro reaction, as mentioned earlier. 

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