Although the transformation of lignin monomers and model compounds into nitrogenated chemicals has been actively investigated, the production of organonitrogen chemicals directly from lignin has been scarcely reported. Here, we communicate a single-step catalytic strategy for producing phenolic amines directly from wood lignin via reductive fractionation in an aqueous ammonia-alcohol mixture over Ru catalyst. Depending on the type of alcohol used, primary, secondary, and ternary phenolic amines can all be synthesized and reach a maximum yield of 26.6%. During the process, native lignin was selectively removed from woody biomass, leaving other constituents, especially (hemi)cellulose, largely unaffected. The obtained phenolic amines were further upgraded into products with enhanced functions. This work exemplifies the possibility for the production of N-functional compounds from lignin, expanding the options for the lignin-first strategy in biomass refinery.

尽管人们已积极研究将木质素单体和模型化合物转化为含氮化学品，但直接从木质素生产有机氮化学品的报道却很少。在这里，我们提出了一种单步催化策略，通过在氨水-酒精混合物中在钌催化剂上进行还原分馏，直接从木质素中生产酚胺。根据所用醇的类型，可以合成伯、仲和三元酚胺，最高收率可达 26.6%。在此过程中，天然木质素被选择性地从木质生物质中去除，而其他成分，特别是（半）纤维素，基本上不受影响。所得酚胺进一步升级为功能增强的产品。这项工作例证了从木质素生产 N 功能化合物的可能性，扩大了生物质精炼中木质素优先策略的选择。