Aromatic ring cleavage in degradation of β-O-4 lignin substructure by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract

AbstractThe degradation of a β-O-4 lignin substructure model dimer, 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol-β-guaiacyl ether (I), by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was investigated. The guaiacyl aromatic ring of the dimer (I) was first cleaved to give the cyclic carbonate of 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol (II) which was then converted to 4-ethoxy-3-methoxyphenylglycerol (III). The carbonate carbon of (II) was found to be derived from the guaiacyl group of (I) based on tracer experiments with 13C