US 11,851,398 B2
Catalytic funneling of phenolics
Yuhe Liao, Leuven (BE); Sander Van den Bosch, Wilsele (BE); Joost Van Aelst, Hasselt (BE); and Bert Frans Sels, Westerlo (BE)
Assigned to Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U.Leuven R&D, Leuven (BE)
Filed by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, K.U.Leuven R&D, Leuven (BE)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/083,154.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/926,936, filed on Oct. 28, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0122691 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. C07C 37/50 (2006.01); B01J 21/08 (2006.01); B01J 23/40 (2006.01); B01J 23/755 (2006.01); B01J 21/06 (2006.01); B01J 23/42 (2006.01); B01J 23/44 (2006.01); B01J 29/40 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 37/50 (2013.01) [B01J 21/063 (2013.01); B01J 21/08 (2013.01); B01J 23/42 (2013.01); B01J 23/44 (2013.01); B01J 23/755 (2013.01); B01J 29/40 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a mixture of compounds obtained from catalytic fractionation of lignocellulose and/or lignin, the mixture of compounds comprising formula (I):

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein:
each occurrence of R1 and R2 is independently selected to be —O—CH3 or —H;
each occurrence of R3 is independently selected to be —H, or -methyl, or -ethyl, or -propyl, or -propylene, or -1-alkoxypropyl, or -3-hydroxypropyl;
b) preparing a reaction mixture by contacting the mixture of compounds of step a) in gas phase, with a reaction mixture containing a metal-based catalyst, under a hydrogen containing gas atmosphere;
wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of at least 265° C. and a partial hydrogen pressure of at least 0.2 bar; and
c) obtaining from step b) products comprising a mixture of compounds of formula (Ia), as well as methane or methanol or both

OG Complex Work Unit Chemistry
wherein:
R1 is independently selected to be —CH3 or —H;
R2 is independently selected to be —H, or -methyl, or -ethyl, or -propyl; and
m and n represent the position on the aromatic ring, with m being any one of the numbers 2-6 and with n being any one of the numbers 3-5, with m not being equal to n.