biostudies-literatureUnknown13(17)Rosetto GLignin-derived aromatic carboxylic acids can be produced from oxidative catalytic processes and are promising building blocks for performance-advantaged bioproducts that leverage their inherent heteroatom functionalities. Here, we synthesize 2-methoxyterephthalate and 2,6-dimethoxyterephthalate derivatives by electrochemical carboxylation of guaiacyl- and syringyl-derived lignin monomers obtained from the oxidative deconstruction of lignin. These methoxylated terephthalates are evaluated as co-monomers in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and as plasticizers that could replace petrochemically-derived isophthalate and phthalate, respectively. Specifically, we co-polymerize 2-methoxy- and 2,6-dimethoxyterephthalate with dimethyl terephthalate to form several PET co-polymers, both of which eACS sustainable chemistry & engineering6342-6354https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12376922biostudies-literatureLignin-Derived Methoxyterephthalates for Performance-Advantaged Polymers and Plasticizers.PMC12376922Konev MORorrer NARosetto GHaugen SJLazarenko DLiu XRamirez KJChism KAKnott BCCurley JBWernke KMStahl SSLincoln CCardinale LHamernik LJBeckham GTfalseLignin-Derived Methoxyterephthalates for Performance-Advantaged Polymers and Plasticizers.Lignin-derived aromatic carboxylic acids can be produced from oxidative catalytic processes and are promising building blocks for performance-advantaged bioproducts that leverage their inherent heteroatom functionalities. Here, we synthesize 2-methoxyterephthalate and 2,6-dimethoxyterephthalate derivatives by electrochemical carboxylation of guaiacyl- and syringyl-derived lignin monomers obtained from the oxidative deconstruction of lignin. These methoxylated terephthalates are evaluated as co-monomers in poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and as plasticizers that could replace petrochemically-derived isophthalate and phthalate, respectively. Specifically, we co-polymerize 2-methoxy- and 2,6-dimethoxyterephthalate with dimethyl terephthalate to form several PET co-polymers, both of which e2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 May2026-05-09T19:10:00.028Z2026-04-08T01:10:36.202ZS-EPMC123769224085589910.1021/acssuschemeng.5c01330