Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing fragments of lignin with functional groups.

Abstract: Described is a compound having the structure (I), (II) or (V), Formulae(I), (II), (V), wherein R1 is —H, —CH2OH or —CH(OH)CH2OH; R2 is —H, —OH, or —CH2OH; R3 is —H, —OH, or —CH2OH; n is 0 or 1; p is 0 or 1; R10 is hydrogen or a hydrocarbon moiety with 1 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein each hydrogen atom of the hydrocarbon moiety may optionally be substituted with a C1-C4-alkyl group or a halogen atom; R is either —Z—F or Y and wherein Z is a hydrocarbon moiety with 0 to 10 carbon atoms, optionally substituted with 1 to 4 C1-C4-alkyl groups or 1 to 4 halogen atoms, and F is —COOH, —CH(COOH)2, —COOR4, —CHO, —CH(CHO)2, C2H3, —C2H, —N3, —NH2, —NHR7, —OH, —CH(CH2OH)2, wherein R4 is a C1-C4-alkyl group and R7 is a C1-C4-alkyl group and wherein Y is hydrogen or a linear, branched or cyclic organic residue having 1 to 20 carbon atoms with the proviso that if R is Y and n is 0 at least one of R1 or R2 is not hydrogen.