Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026

Designed for Molecular Recycling: A Lignin-Derived Semi-aromatic Biobased Polymer
Published on: November 30, 2020
Novel tetrahydrofuran structures derived from beta-beta-coupling reactions involving sinapyl acetate in Kenaf lignins
1Department of Biochemistry [formerly Department of Biological Systems Engineering], Enzyme Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1710 University Ave., Madison, WI, USA. fachuanglu@wisc.edu
Abstract:
Free radical coupling of sinapyl gamma-acetate or cross-coupling between sinapyl acetate and sinapyl alcohol yields novel tetrahydrofuran beta-beta-(cross-)coupled dehydrodimers. Such substructures are therefore anticipated in naturally acetylated lignins, e.g. in Kenaf, if sinapyl acetate is a component of the lignin monomer pool. The DFRC (derivatization followed by reductive cleavage) method, modified by replacing all acetyl reagents and solvents with their propionyl analogs (DFRC'), allows the analysis of naturally acetylated lignins. DFRC' treatment of the sinapyl acetate-derived dimers or crossed dimers gave diagnostic products that retain at least one acetate group on a sidechain gamma-position; the products have been authenticated by comparison of their mass spectra and GC retention times with those of synthesized compounds. DFRC' of Kenaf lignins produces the same diagnostic products as from the dimers, implicating the presence of the various tetrahydrofuran units in Kenaf lignins. With data from the model compounds in hand, NMR analysis of Kenaf lignins elegantly confirms the presence of such substructures in the polymer, establishing that acetates on Kenaf lignins arise through incorporation of sinapyl acetate, as a lignin precursor, via enzyme-mediated radical coupling mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Vicinal Diols via Reductive Coupling of Aldehydes or Ketones: Pinacol Coupling Overview
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Woodward–Fieser Rules
Structure of Conjugated Dienes
Conjugated dienes are compounds characterized by the presence of alternating double and single bonds. In a conjugated system like 1,3-butadiene, the unhybridized 2p orbital on each carbon overlaps continuously, allowing the π electrons to be delocalized across the entire molecule. In contrast, this type of overlap does not occur in cumulated and isolated dienes, such as 2,3-pentadiene and 1,4-pentadiene, respectively. Instead, the π electrons remain localized between the double...
α-Hydroxy Ketones via Reductive Coupling of Esters: Acyloin Condensation Overview
Stability of Conjugated Dienes
A comparison of the enthalpies of hydrogenation of dienes reveals that conjugated dienes release less heat on hydrogenation, rendering them more stable than their nonconjugated analogs.
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry

