Direct conversion of lignin phenols into high-value polyaniline and related electronic materials

本项目直接响应了“自然资源与能源”的目标区域。“生物能源和生物产品”，专注于“从木质素中生产和分离酚类和碳”。生物质热分解是一种很有前途的，已经在工业上实施的生产液态碳氢化合物的方法，可以用作运输燃料。然而，在“粗生物燃料”中，大约30 w/w %的有机成分是木质素，它是各种酚类芳烃的丰富来源，但目前被浪费（或燃烧作为能源）。李氏小组最近发现的酚类直接催化胺化反应为提高生物质利用的经济可行性提供了新的“绿色化学”机会，将木质素酚类转化为芳香胺。采用这种反应对粗热解生物质，我们期望达到两个目标：(1)通过ph控制提取提供低成本分离产生的胺的处理方法；(2)创造高价值的电子功能材料（聚苯胺、三芳胺、咔唑），用于下一代技术，包括聚合物电池、太阳能电池和固态照明。该项目的成功实现将对加拿大经济的化学和材料部门产生重大影响，并从长远来看，为可持续能源解决方案做出贡献。作为对我们技术解决方案的广泛工业兴趣的反映，三家加拿大公司已承诺支持该项目，并将与共同pi合作执行该项目。Quandra Chemicals对将苯酚转化为苯胺产品的绿色方法感兴趣；先进材料公司生产苯胺和聚苯胺产品；和1-材料感兴趣的是基于木质素衍生苯胺前体的电子材料。该项目将培养绿色化学、化学工程和材料发现方面的理学士、理学硕士、博士和PDF级别的学生。

This project is in direct response to the target area "Natural Resources and Energy", "1. Bioenergy and Bioproducts", focusing on "producing and separating phenolics and carbons from lignin".Biomass thermolysis is a promising and already industrially implemented approach for the production of liquid hydrocarbons that can be used as a transportation fuel. However, in the "crude biofuel", ca 30 w/w % of the organic component is lignin, which is a rich source of various phenolic aromatics, but is currently wasted (or burnt for energy). The recently discovered in Li's group *direct* catalytic amination of phenols provides a new "green chemistry" opportunity to enhance the economic feasibility of biomass utilization by converting the lignin phenols into aromatic amines. Adopting this reaction for the crude thermolyzed biomass, we expect to reach two goals: (1) provide a handle for low-cost separation of the resulting amines through pH-controlled extraction and (2) create high-value electronically functional materials (polyanilines, triarylamine, carbazoles) to be used in next generation technologies, including polymer batteries, solar cells and solid-state lighting.The successful realization of the project could have a major impact on chemical and materials sectors of Canadian economy, and in the long term, contribute to a sustainable energy solutions. As a reflection of this wide industrial interest in our technical solution, three Canadian companies have pledged their support to the project and will collaborate with co-PIs in executing the project. Quandra Chemicals is interested in green methods of conversion phenols into aniline products; Advanced Materials Inc in aniline and polyaniline products; and 1-Materials is interested electronic materials based on lignin-derived aniline precursors. The project will train students at BSc, MSc, PhD and PDF levels in green chemistry, chemical engineering and materials discovery.