The thermochemolytic behavior of 4-O-etherified cinnamyl alcohols and aldehydes in lignin was investigated in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) (315 degrees C/4 s), using veratrylglycol-beta-(coniferyl alcohol) ether (1a), veratrylglycol-beta-(sinapyl alcohol) ether (1b), and veratrylglycol-beta-(coniferyl aldehyde) ether (2). The methylated products were monitored with gas c...

The selective aerobic oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol over Pt nanoparticles has been tuned via the use of mesoporous silica supports to control their dispersion and oxidation state. High area two-dimensional SBA-15, and three-dimensional, interconnected KIT-6 silica significantly enhance Pt dispersion, and thus surface PtO2 concentration, over that achievable via commercial low surface area silic...

The solid beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CyD) complex of O-cinnamyl S-methyl dithiocarbonates (xanthate, 1a), upon heating at 45 degrees C, underwent asymmetric [3,31-sigmatropic rearrangement to give the optically S-(1-phenylallyl) S-methyl dithiocarbonate (2a) with 60% ee. Heating the beta-CyD complex of 2a at 120 degrees C caused extrusion of COS to give cinnamyl methyl sulfide (3a) in high yield. ...

This study investigated the fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum (Liquidambar orientalis) and valerian (Valeriana wallichii) essential oils and their components against the Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus). The fumigant toxicity of oriental sweetgum and valerian oil differed significantly according to exposure time. Oriental sweetgum showed toxicity at short exposure times (2 days),...

Genetic modification of plants via down-regulation of cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase leads to incorporation of aldehyde groups in the lignin polymer. The resulting lignocellulosic biomass has increased bioethanol yield. However, a molecular-scale explanation of this finding is currently lacking. Here, we perform molecular dynamics simulation of the copolymer with hemicellulose of wild type and ...

The geometric specificity of three different alcohol dehydrogenases (alcohol:NAD+ oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.1) (from yeast, from horse liver, and from Leuconostoc mesenteroides) in the reduction of trans- and cis-cinnamaldehydes has been investigated. All three enzymes display a remarkable trans specificity: they react with the trans isomer 7 to 647 times faster than with its cis counterpart. Ex...