DERIVATIZATION FOLLOWED BY REDUCTIVE CLEAVAGE (DFRC METHOD), A NEW METHOD FOR LIGNIN ANALYSIS - PROTOCOL FOR ANALYSIS OF DFRC MONOMERS

A new method far selective and efficient cleavage of arylglycerol-beta -aryl (beta-O-4) ether linkages in lignins is introduced. The acronym ''DFRC'' relates to the reactions involved, derivatization followed by reductive cleavage. Derivatization, accompanied by cell wall solubili zation, is accomplished with acetyl bromide in acetic acid; reductive cleavage of resulting beta-bromo ethers utilizes zinc in an acidic med ium. Following acetylation, degradation monomers (4-acetoxycinnamyl ac etates) are quantified by GC, providing data analogous to those from a nalytical thioacidolysis.