Cover Feature: Synthesis and Computational Investigation of Antioxidants Prepared by Oxidative Depolymerization of Lignin and Aldol Condensation of Aromatic Aldehydes (ChemSusChem 12/2023)

Abstract

The Cover Feature shows novel antioxidants synthesized by oxidative depolymerization of lignin to form aromatic aldehydes followed by aldol condensation with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Aldol condensation was found to greatly improve the antioxidation ability of lignin depolymerized products. p-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, and syringaldehyde as representative aromatic aldehydes were further employed for aldol condensation with MEK, resulting in successful synthesis of new antioxidants. The newly synthesized antioxidants could be used as a green additive of biodiesel to increase its oxidation stability. Density functional theoretical calculations confirmed that electron-donating groups such as methoxyl and conjugated side chains could effectively improve the antioxidation ability of the obtained antioxidants. More information can be found in the Research Article by D. Gao et al.