METHOD FOR THE SELECTIVE CLEAVAGE OF A COMPOUND COMPRISING AN AROMATIC RING AND A C-O-C LINKAGE

1 . A method of cleaving a C—O bond in a compound, comprising contacting the compound with a hydrogen source in the presence of a supported noble metal catalyst doped with a halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine, wherein the compound comprises an aromatic ring and a C—O—C linkage, thereby cleaving the C—O bond in the C—O—C linkage.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound comprising the aromatic ring and the C—O—C linkage is a compound comprising an ether linkage, which belongs to a class of ether linkages that contain an oxygen atom directly connected to at least one aryl or arenediyl or a class of ether linkages that contain an oxygen atom directly connected to two alkanediyls, each of which is connected to an aryl or an arenediyl.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound comprising an aromatic ring and a C—O—C linkage is a lignin compound.

4 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the compound comprising an aromatic ring and the C—O—C linkage is a compound comprising an ether linkage, which is a class of ether linkages that contain one oxygen atom directly connected to two aryls or arenediyls.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the compound comprising the aromatic ring and the C—O—C linkage is a poly(aryl ether ketone) (PAEK) comprising recurring units (R PAEK ) which are selected from the group consisting of units of formulas (J-A) to (J-E) below:

wherein

R′ and R 2 , at each location, is independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, ether, thioether, carboxylic acid, ester, amide, imide, alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, alkyl sulfonate, alkali or alkaline earth metal phosphonate, alkyl phosphonate, amine, quaternary ammonium; and

j′ and b, are independently zero or an integer ranging from 1 to 4.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of rhenium, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum and gold, and combinations thereof.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the noble metal is present in amount from 0.5 wt % to 30 wt % relative to the total weight of the supported noble metal catalyst with a dopant.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the halogen is Br.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the halogen is present in amount from 0.05 wt % to 5 wt % relative to the total weight of the supported noble metal catalyst with a dopant.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cleavage reaction is carried out in the presence of a zeolite having LTA, FAU, BEA, MFI or MOR framework.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the support of the supported noble metal catalyst is carbon.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the compound comprising an aromatic ring and a C—O—C linkage to the catalyst is from 1:1 to 100:1 and preferably from 2:1 to 10:1.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the reaction temperature of the cleavage reaction is from 80 to 250° C.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen source is H 2 and H 2 pressure is from 1 and 50 bars.

15 . A mixture comprising:

i. a compound comprising an aromatic ring and a C—O—C linkage;

ii. a supported noble metal catalyst doped with a halogen selected from the group consisting of chlorine and bromine;

iii. a hydrogen source;

iv. optionally a solvent;

v. optionally a zeolite having LTA, FAU, BEA, MFI or MOR framework.