A Microscale Protocol for Alkaline Nitrobenzene Oxidation of Lignins Using a Readily Available Reactor

Abstract

Nitrobenzene oxidation of lignin has long been one of the typical lignin chemical degradation methods. Previously, we reported a high-throughput and microscale protocol for the method. However, the reactor used in the protocol was available only in Japan and not supported outside Japan. In this study, we prepared an alternative protocol of alkaline nitrobenzene oxidation using an alternative reactor, which is available in many countries. Using the new protocol almost the same product yields as the previous protocol were obtained using a stable-isotope-dilution method. In addition, ethylvanillin, which is readily and commercially available, was also found to be usable as an alternative internal standard.