Lignin quinone methides rearomatization

Quinone methides play an important role in lignification. They are produced directly, as intermediates, when lignin monomers, be they hydroxycinnamyl alcohols, hydroxy-cinnamaldehydes, or hydroxycinnamates, couple or cross-couple at their 8- positions. A variety of postcoupling quinone methide rearomatization reactions leads to an array of structures in the complex lignin polymer (Fig. 12.2). 

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