Synthesis of novel ionic liquids from lignin-derived compounds

A method for preparing an ionic liquid comprising:

• contacting a starting material comprising lignin with a depolymerization agent to depolymerize the lignin and form a mixture of aldehyde containing compounds;
• contacting the mixture of aldehyde containing compounds with an amine under conditions suitable to convert the mixture of aldehyde containing compounds to a mixture of amine containing compounds;
• and
• contacting the mixture of amine containing compounds with an acid under conditions suitable to form an ammonium salt, thereby preparing the ionic liquid, wherein:
• the ionic liquid comprises at least one compound of the following formula:
• wherein each of the R groups of the nitrogen is independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, and CH2CH3;
• at least two of the R groups of the nitrogen are independently selected from the group consisting of CH3, and CH2CH3;
• R′, R″, and R′″ are independently selected from the group consisting of H, OH, and OCH3;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, and CH2OH;
• and
• X comprises an acid anion.