Green aromatic aldehyde production from biomass via catalytic fractionation and ozonolysis

Abstract

Herein, we propose a catalytic fractionation–ozonolysis strategy for producing aromatic aldehydes from biomass. Native lignin is selectively depolymerized into ∼30 wt% 4-methoxypropenyl-guaiacol/syringol over MoO₂ at 160–180 °C, followed by ozonolysis yielding 20 wt% vanillin and syringaldehyde. This strategy is free of base and well preserves carbohydrate pulp.