Treatment of Lignin with Thioacidolysis Reagent

Extractive-free wood and straw samples are prepared by successive 24-h extraction in Soxhlet apparatus with ethanol-toluene (1 2, v/v), ethanol and water. Pulps are similarly extracted for 24 h with acetone. 

Arylglycerol-/ -aryl ether RJ—CHSEt—CHSEt—CH2SEt erythro/threo 50/50 

C6Cf fi-Aryl ether with a-CO substituent R—CHSEt=CHSEt (Z and E) p-Hydroxycinnamaldehyde end group R—CHSEt—CH2—CH(SEt)2 

The entire extraction procedure preferably is performed without interruption, when kept in aqueous media overnight, the main products are slightly degraded as shown by decreased recovery In contrast, the stability of thioacidolysis products in organic media (for example CH2C12) is excellent, at least at 4°C, where standard solutions remained unchanged for more than 1 year 

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