monolignolerderived

Monolignol-derived compounds are chemical species that originate from monolignols, a group of hydroxycinnamyl alcohols that serve as essential precursors in lignin biosynthesis in vascular plants. The primary monolignols are p-coumaryl alcohol, coniferyl alcohol, and sinapyl alcohol, which are produced through the phenylpropanoid pathway from phenylalanine and tyrosine. In plants, these monolignols can exist as free alcohols or in modified forms such as glycosides and esters, and they undergo radical coupling reactions catalyzed by peroxidases and laccases to form lignin, a heterogeneous aromatic polymer that reinforces cell walls and regulates water transport.

Beyond lignin, monolignols also give rise to a broader family of derivatives including lignans and neolignans, which result from dimerization and coupling of two or more monolignol units. Other derivatives include monolignol glycosides and various methylated or acetylated forms that participate in plant defense, storage, or transport. The exact composition of monolignol-derived structures varies by species, tissue, and developmental stage, influencing lignin structure, biomass recalcitrance, and plant physiology.

Analytically, researchers identify and quantify monolignol-derived compounds using methods such as thioacidolysis, pyrolysis-GC/MS, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry. In applied contexts, manipulating monolignol biosynthesis and its derivatives has implications for improving forage and biofuel feedstocks, modifying wood properties, and developing plant-derived materials with tailored performance.