NEWS OF THE WEEK
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY: Catalyst selectively cleaves key bond in models of complex plant polymer SING A nickel catalyst, chemists have found a
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way to break an aromatic ether bond while leaving the aromatic ring itself unscathed (Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1200437). The work provides proof of concept that metal catalysts could be used to convert lignin—a biopolymer that is replete with aromatic ether linkages and that lends stiffness to plants— into fuels or commercial chemicals. Lignin gums up some chemical processes for obtaining energy from other plant components such as cellulose. And although it can be burned to provide heat and energy, it’s a solid that is tough to transport, says organometallic chemist John F. Hartwig of the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. “It would be nice to be able to chop it up into small enough pieces to make it a liquid” suitable for processing into transportation fuels or aromatic chemical feedstocks, he says. But enzymes have trouble breaking down lignin, and chemically cleaving aromatic ether bonds such as those in lignin is messy, requiring harsh conditions and lead-
ing to mixtures of products, some with reduced aromatic rings. Using hydrogen and a new nickel catalyst, Hartwig and postdoctoral researcher Alexey G. Sergeev selectively cleaved aromatic C–O bonds in lignin model compounds. So far, the method requires relatively high amounts of the catalyst OCH3 OCH3 and a strong O base, but Ni catalyst + H2 Base Hartwig says his team, Lignin model compound which is among several Illinois research groups in the BP-supported Energy Biosciences Institute, is working to eliminate those drawbacks. He has filed a provisional patent application on the process. “There’s a saying that you can make anything you want to from lignin except for money,” says George W. Huber, an expert in biomass conversion at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Researchers have been trying to break down lignin for a long time, but selectivity has always been an issue, he says. The catalyst must be improved to work cost-effectively on lignin itself, but “this route shows that selective lignin depolymerization chemistry is possible,” he says. “It shows the power of modern chemistry for solving energy problems.”—CARMEN DRAHL
its technology. PTO has been struggling to deal with a huge backlog of more than 700,000 applications. “This important legislation is long overdue. The last major patent reform was nearly 60 years ago,” said Rep. Lamar S. Smith (R-Texas), committee chairman and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: House panel the bill’s chief sponsor. “Since then, American invenadvances bill to reform patent process tors have helped put a man on the moon, developed cell phones, and launched the Internet. But we cannot protect the technologies of today with the tools of the past.” EGISLATION that would overhaul the nation’s The measure, which will likely be considered by the patent system took another step toward enactfull House later this year, is similar to a bill that easily ment on April 14 when the House of Representapassed the Senate on March 8 and has the backing of tives Judiciary Committee gave strong bipartisan apPresident Barack Obama (C&EN, March 14, page 30). proval to a reform measure that has the backing of big The bill also sets rules for patents to be challenged chemical and pharmaceutical companies. after they are granted through a PTO administrative The bill, H.R. 1249, was approved by a vote of 32-3 procedure. Advocates say the new postgrant review and would align the U.S. with other industrialized naprocess will allow disputes involving patent quality and tions that use a “first to file” system, which awards patscope to be settled without expensive litigation. ents to the inventor who filed an application The legislation is supported by a diverse first, rather than allowing a fight over who array of stakeholders, including the Coaliactually invented something first. tion for 21st Century Patent Reform, whose “We cannot It would also allow the Patent & Trademembers include Dow Chemical, DuPont, protect the mark Office (PTO) to set its own fees and Pfizer, Eli Lilly & Co., and Novartis. technologies prevent Congress from diverting the rev“Our coalition believes the legislation of today with reported, with overwhelmingly broad biparenue raised by those fees to other unrelated the tools of government programs. tisan support, will improve the operations Supporters say the bill will help ensure of PTO and procedures for obtaining and the past.” that the patent office has the resources it enforcing patents,” says Gary Griswold, the LAMAR S. SMITH needs to hire more examiners and upgrade group’s director.—GLENN HESS (R-TEXAS)
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PATENT REFORM ON THE MOVE
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COURTESY OF LAMAR SMITH
CHOPPING UP LIGNIN
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