The sustainable conversion of biomass from agri-food waste into value-added chemicals is a major objective in bio-conomy. However, the valorization of recalcitrant lignocellulosic material, remains a significant challenge due to complex, rigid, and chemically resistant structures. The major components of agri-food biomass are polysaccharides (such as cellulose, chitin, pectin or starch etc.). Among the strategies explored, copper-based catalytic systems have emerged as promising tools for activating and transforming biomass polysaccharides under mild conditions.[1]
This work investigates the behavior and reactivity of several bio-inspired copper catalysts in the oxidative depolymerization of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides, facilitating the release of smaller, functionalized molecules suitable for biofuels or biobased chemical synthesis. In this work, three copper-containing molecular catalysts were synthesized and characterized using various techniques (NMR, HRMS, EPR, X-ray diffraction). The catalytic activity of these catalysts was then evaluated on substrates of increasing complexity from soluble model substrates (p-NPG, cellobiose) to polysaccharides, under mild conditions and in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. This study aims to contribute to the development of efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly methods for the valorization of underutilized biomass resources, advancing both fundamental knowledge and industrial applications in the bioeconomy sector.

[1] Leblay, R.; Delgadillo-Ruíz, R.; Decroos, C.; Hureau, C.; Réglier, M.; Castillo, I.; Faure, B.; Simaan, A. J. LPMO-like Activity of Bioinspired Copper Complexes: From Model Substrate to Extended Polysaccharides. ChemCat Chem. 2023, 15,
e202300933.

Maria El Nmeir* , Subhankar Sutradhar, Jalila Simaan ; Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS, Centrale Méditerranée, iSm2, Marseille, France