Tom Wirtanen

Scopus Publications

Depolymerisation of γ-Valerolactone Organosolv Lignins with Unsupported Molybdenum-Based Catalysts
Silja Känsäkoski, Saravanan Kasipandi, Taina Ohra‐aho, Tom Wirtanen, Juha Lehtonen, et al.
Chemsuschem, 2026
Lignin is an attractive feedstock for a wide variety of applications ranging from aromatic chemicals and transportation fuels to resins and coatings. Emerging biorefinery concepts, like the organosolv process, enable the separation of all the lignocellulose components, and moreover, produce lignins of high quality and purity susceptible to valorisation by depolymerisation. In this work, we focus on the depolymerisation of lignins obtained by γ ‐valerolactone (GVL) organosolv fractionation of four biomass feedstocks, eucalyptus, white birch, sugarcane bagasse and Scots pine. We demonstrate that lignins extracted with the GVL process are depolymerised using unsupported molybdenum‐based catalysts under reductive conditions in supercritical ethanol. As a result, over 90% yields of low‐molecular‐weight lignin oils are obtained with minimal char formation, yields of the aromatic monomers being 7–16 wt%. Furthermore, the design of experiments method is used to analyse the effect of depolymerisation conditions, catalyst, hydrogen loading and temperature, on the yields and properties of the product fractions. Notably, we show that the properties of the lignin oils and monoaromatics can be tuned towards the targeted application by modifying the depolymerisation conditions.
Cascade synthesis of diarylamines catalyzed by oxygen-rich and porous carbon
Anna Lenarda, Itisha Jain, Aleksi Kaleva, Valtteri Oksanen, Sami Heikkinen, et al.
Green Chemistry, 2026
Porous activated carbon bearing OH and CO groups, in the presence of a molecular oxidant, catalyzes metal-free cascade synthesis of diarylamines via enamine formation and oxidative aromatization.
Synthesis of aliphatic α-hydroxy carboxylic acids via electrocarboxylation of aldehydes
Valtteri Oksanen, Kiia Malinen, Tom Wirtanen
Rsc Advances, 2025
A novel method for synthesis of aliphatic α-hydroxy acids is achieved via electrocarboxylation of aldehydes with CO 2 in an undivided cell with stable carbon based electrodes.
TEMPO-Mediated Paired Electrosynthesis of Ethylene Glycol from Formaldehyde and Methanol at High Current Densities
Valtteri Oksanen, Kiia Malinen, Tao Hu, Alexander Reznichenko, Tom Wirtanen
Chemsuschem, 2025
Herein, a paired electrosynthesis of ethylene glycol from formaldehyde and methanol facilitated by TEMPO is reported. The use of TEMPO accentuates formaldehyde production at the anode, providing additional formaldehyde into the cathodic coupling process. The reaction is performed in water/methanol solution in a simple undivided cell using sulfuric acid‐treated graphite electrodes with industrially feasible current densities between 300 and 350 mA cm−2. Other components of the reaction are sodium chloride which is used as a supporting electrolyte and tributylmethylammonium chloride which raises the current efficiency. With a slight modification in the reaction temperature and current density, the outcome can be tuned from high current efficiency toward higher chemical yields. The conditions of the batch reaction are successfully transferred to a continuous flow‐cell arrangement. Mechanistic studies indicate the involvement of hydroxymethyl radicals in the electrolysis, and deuterium‐labeling experiments show the partial conversion of methanol into formaldehyde and ethylene glycol.
Phosphorus-containing lignin intermediates as reactive bio-based flame-retardants for polyurethane and acrylic coatings for wood
Maddalen Puyadena, Petri Widsten, Tom Wirtanen, Miriam Kellock, Gurutze Ortega, et al.
Industrial Crops and Products, 2024
Tunable Catalytic Reduction of Furfural with Formic Acid and Sodium Formate Into Furan and Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives
Valtteri Oksanen, Nicolaas van Strien, Tyko Viertiö, Niko Vuorio, Bibesh Gauli, et al.
Chemcatchem, 2024
Furfural is an attractive bio‐based platform chemical that has many derivatives of commercial interest. Herein, we show that the selectivity of the direct furfural reduction can be steered from 2‐methylfuran and 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran to furfuryl alcohol and tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol by varying the ratio of formic acid and sodium formate. These reagents take the role of terminal reductants in the disclosed heterogeneous Pd‐catalysed process. We report the development and optimisation of the reaction conditions for three different products directly from furfural: 2‐methyltetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofurfuryl alcohol and 2‐methylfuran which were obtained in 59 %, 46 %, and 63 % selectivity, respectively. Furthermore, the protocol uses commercially available Pd/Al2O3 as catalyst and the formic acid and sodium formate can be obtained from biogenous sources.
Choice of the Right Supporting Electrolyte in Electrochemical Reductions: A Principal Component Analysis
Florian Mast, Maximilian M. Hielscher, Tom Wirtanen, Max Erichsen, Jürgen Gauss, et al.
Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2024
We present an analysis of a set of molecular, electrical, and electronic properties for a large number of the cations of quaternary ammonium salts usually employed as supporting electrolytes in cathodic reduction reactions. The goal of the present study is to define a measure for the quality of a supporting electrolyte in terms of the yield of the reaction considered. We performed a principal component analysis using the normalized values of the properties in order to lower the number of relevant reaction coordinates and find that the integral variance of 13 properties can well be represented by three principal components. The yield of the electrochemical hydrodimerization of acrylonitrile employing different quaternary ammonium salts as supporting electrolytes was determined in a series of experiments. We found only a very weak correlation between the yield and the values of the properties but a strong correlation between the yield and the values of the most important principal component. Very similar results are obtained for two further existing systematic experimental studies of the impact of the supporting electrolyte on the yield of cathodic reductions. For all three example reactions, a supervised regression using the two most important principal components as variables yields excellent values for the coefficients of determination. For comparison, we also applied our methodology to sets of purely structure-based features that are usually employed in cheminformatics and obtained results of almost similar quality. We therefore conjecture that our methodology in combination with a small number of experiments can be used to predict the yield of a given cathodic reduction on the basis of the properties of the supporting electrolyte.
Highly selective scalable electrosynthesis of 4-hydroxybenzo[e]-1,2,4-thiadiazine-1,1-dioxides
Johannes Winter, Tobias Prenzel, Tom Wirtanen, María de Jesús Gálvez-Vázquez, Kamil Hofman, et al.
Cell Reports Physical Science, 2024
Nickel-Electrocatalyzed Synthesis of Bifuran-Based Monomers
Valtteri Oksanen, Sari Rautiainen, Tom Wirtanen
Chemistry A European Journal, 2023
Bifuran motifs can be accessed with nickel‐bipyridine electrocatalyzed homocouplings of bromine‐substituted methyl furancarboxylates, which, in turn, can be prepared from hemicellulose‐derived furfural. The described protocol uses sustainable carbon‐based graphite electrodes in the simplest setup – an undivided cell with constant current electrolysis. The reported method avoids using a sacrificial anode by employing triethanolamine as an electron donor.
Cyclic carbonates as building blocks for non-isocyanate polyurethanes
Soilikki Kotanen, Tom Wirtanen, Riitta Mahlberg, Adina Anghelescu‐Hakala, Tapani Harjunalanen, et al.
Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2023
Three different cyclic carbonates (ethylene, propylene, and butylene carbonate) that can be derived from CO2 were successfully polymerized with hexamethylenediamine to form non‐isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs) via self‐polycondensation route without the use of harmful di‐isocyanates. Three different catalysts were compared for their performance in self‐polycondensation. Increasing the side chain length in cyclic carbonate increased the amount of urea side reaction and decreased the solubility of the final product. The increased amount of urea lead to a more thermoset behavior as the melting and decomposition took place simultaneously. Furthermore, the extent of urea side reaction and melting behavior were adjustable with the selection of the catalyst or polymerization parameters. With ethylene and propylene carbonate based precursors, it was possible to obtain promising melting temperatures and lap shear strength for the NIPUs when optimized polymerization parameters and catalyst were used.
Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of 2,3-Disubstituted Quinoline N-oxides by Cathodic Reduction of Nitro Arenes
Johannes Winter, Tobias Prenzel, Tom Wirtanen, Dieter Schollmeyer, Siegfried R. Waldvogel
Chemistry A European Journal, 2023
Carbon Materials as Catalytic Tools for Oxidative Dehydrogenations and Couplings in Liquid Phase
Anna Lenarda, Tom Wirtanen, Juho Helaja
Synthesis Germany, 2022
Tetramethylammonium Fluoride: Fundamental Properties and Applications in C-F Bond-Forming Reactions and as a Base
Vladimir Iashin, Tom Wirtanen, Jesus E. Perea-Buceta
Catalysts, 2022
Cathodic Corrosion of Metal Electrodes—How to Prevent It in Electroorganic Synthesis
Tom Wirtanen, Tobias Prenzel, Jean-Philippe Tessonnier, Siegfried R. Waldvogel
Chemical Reviews, 2021
Air oxidized activated carbon catalyst for aerobic oxidative aromatizations of N-heterocycles
Lukas Enders, David S. Casadio, Santeri Aikonen, Anna Lenarda, Tom Wirtanen, et al.
Catalysis Science and Technology, 2021
Carbocatalytic Cascade Synthesis of Polysubstituted Quinolines from Aldehydes and 2-Vinyl Anilines
Mikko K. Mäkelä, Evgeny Bulatov, Kiia Malinen, Juulia Talvitie, Martin Nieger, et al.
Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 2021
Divergent Carbocatalytic Routes in Oxidative Coupling of Benzofused Heteroaryl Dimers: A Mechanistic Update
David S. Casadio, Santeri Aikonen, Anna Lenarda, Martin Nieger, Tao Hu, et al.
Chemistry A European Journal, 2021
Recent Advances in the Electrochemical Reduction of Substrates Involving N−O Bonds
Tom Wirtanen, Eduardo Rodrigo, Siegfried R. Waldvogel
Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 2020
Selective and Scalable Electrosynthesis of 2H-2-(Aryl)-benzo[d]-1,2,3-triazoles and Their N-Oxides by Using Leaded Bronze Cathodes
Tom Wirtanen, Eduardo Rodrigo, Siegfried R. Waldvogel
Chemistry A European Journal, 2020
Selective and Scalable Electrosynthesis of 2H-2-(Aryl)-benzo[d]-1,2,3-triazoles and Their N-Oxides by Using Leaded Bronze Cathodes
Tom Wirtanen, Eduardo Rodrigo, Siegfried R. Waldvogel
Chemistry A European Journal, 2020
Carbocatalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenative Couplings of (Hetero)Aryls by Oxidized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquid Phase
Tom Wirtanen, Santeri Aikonen, Mikko Muuronen, Michele Melchionna, Marianna Kemell, et al.
Chemistry A European Journal, 2019
Gold(I)-Catalyzed 1,3-O-Transposition of Ynones: Mechanism and Catalytic Acceleration with Electron-Rich Aldehydes
Santeri Aikonen, Mikko Muuronen, Tom Wirtanen, Sami Heikkinen, Joshua Musgreave, et al.
ACS Catalysis, 2018
Photoreductive Removal of O-Benzyl Groups from Oxyarene N-Heterocycles Assisted by O-Pyridine-pyridone Tautomerism
Aleksandar R. Todorov, Tom Wirtanen, Juho Helaja
Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2017
Intermolecular oxidative dehydrogenative 3,3′-coupling of benzo[: B] furans and benzo [b] thiophenes promoted by DDQ/H+: Total synthesis of shandougenine B
T. Wirtanen, M. Muuronen, J. Hurmalainen, H. M. Tuononen, M. Nieger, et al.
Organic Chemistry Frontiers, 2016
Carbocatalysed Oxidative C sp 2 -C sp 2 Homocouplings of Benzo-Fused Heterocycles
Tom Wirtanen, Mikko K. Mäkelä, Jawad Sarfraz, Petri Ihalainen, Sami Hietala, et al.
Advanced Synthesis and Catalysis, 2015
Gold(III)-catalyzed enynamine-cyclopentadiene cycloisomerization with chirality transfer: An experimental and theoretical study indicating involvement of dual au(iii) push-pull assisted cis - Trans isomerism
Tom Wirtanen, Mikko Muuronen, Michele Melchionna, Michael Patzschke, Juho Helaja
Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2014
Cycloisomerization of 2-alkynylanilines to indoles catalyzed by carbon-supported gold nanoparticles and subsequent homocoupling to 3,3′-biindoles
Jesus E. Perea-Buceta, Tom Wirtanen, Otto-Ville Laukkanen, Mikko K. Mäkelä, Martin Nieger, et al.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2013

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Evaluation of 5, 6-cellulosene as a synthon for thiol–ene chemistry: NMR and computational study
M Dryś, TV Koso, T Wirtanen, KT Rinne-Garmston, A Mollar-Cuni, ...
2026
High-Pressure Electrosynthesis of Succinic and Adipic Acids from CO2 and Ethylene in an Undivided Cell
V Oksanen, M Luukkonen, K Malinen, N Heikkinen, A Reznichenko, ...
2026
Depolymerisation of γ ‐Valerolactone Organosolv Lignins with Unsupported Molybdenum‐Based Catalysts
S Känsäkoski, S Kasipandi, T Ohra‐aho, T Wirtanen, J Lehtonen, ...
ChemSusChem 19 (3), e202500643 , 2026
2026
Cascade synthesis of diarylamines catalyzed by oxygen-rich and porous carbon
A Lenarda, I Jain, A Kaleva, V Oksanen, S Heikkinen, R Koivula, ...
Green Chemistry 28 (1), 199-212 , 2026
2026
Citations: 2
Process And Arrangement for Producing Ethylene Glycol by Paired Electrolysis
T Wirtanen, V Oksanen
2025
TEMPO‐Mediated Paired Electrosynthesis of Ethylene Glycol from Formaldehyde and Methanol at High Current Densities
V Oksanen, K Malinen, T Hu, A Reznichenko, T Wirtanen
ChemSusChem 18 (12), e202500123 , 2025
2025
Synthesis of aliphatic α-hydroxy carboxylic acids via electrocarboxylation of aldehydes
V Oksanen, K Malinen, T Wirtanen
RSC advances 15 (53), 45724-45728 , 2025
2025
Citations: 1
Phosphorus-containing lignin intermediates as reactive bio-based flame-retardants for polyurethane and acrylic coatings for wood
M Puyadena, P Widsten, T Wirtanen, M Kellock, G Ortega, A Mugica, ...
Industrial Crops and Products 220, 119261 , 2024
2024
Citations: 25
Tunable Catalytic Reduction of Furfural with Formic Acid and Sodium Formate Into Furan and Tetrahydrofuran Derivatives
V Oksanen, N van Strien, T Viertiö, N Vuorio, B Gauli, K Helosuo, ...
ChemCatChem 16 (20), e202400422 , 2024
2024
Citations: 3
Choice of the Right Supporting Electrolyte in Electrochemical Reductions: A Principal Component Analysis
F Mast, MM Hielscher, T Wirtanen, M Erichsen, J Gauss, G Diezemann, ...
Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (22), 15119-15129 , 2024
2024
Citations: 16
Highly selective scalable electrosynthesis of 4-hydroxybenzo [e]-1, 2, 4-thiadiazine-1, 1-dioxides
J Winter, T Prenzel, T Wirtanen, M de Jesús Gálvez-Vázquez, K Hofman, ...
Cell Reports Physical Science 5 (5) , 2024
2024
Citations: 9
Nickel‐Electrocatalyzed Synthesis of Bifuran‐Based Monomers
V Oksanen, S Rautiainen, T Wirtanen
Chemistry–A European Journal 29 (71), e202302572 , 2023
2023
Citations: 1
Cyclic carbonates as building blocks for non‐isocyanate polyurethanes
S Kotanen, T Wirtanen, R Mahlberg, A Anghelescu‐Hakala, ...
Journal of Applied Polymer Science 140 (24), e53964 , 2023
2023
Citations: 18
Carbon dioxide use and removal: Prospects and policies
L Kujanpää, A Reznichenko, H Saastamoinen, S Mäkikouri, S Soimakallio, ...
Prime Minister's Office Finland , 2023
2023
Citations: 27
Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of 2,3‐Disubstituted Quinoline N‐ oxides by Cathodic Reduction of Nitro Arenes
J Winter, T Prenzel, T Wirtanen, D Schollmeyer, SR Waldvogel
Chemistry–A European Journal 29 (12), e202203319 , 2023
2023
Citations: 21
Carbon materials as catalytic tools for oxidative dehydrogenations and couplings in liquid phase
A Lenarda, T Wirtanen, J Helaja
Synthesis 55 (01), 45-61 , 2023
2023
Citations: 11
Simple and Scalable Cathodic Synthesis of 1 H -1-Hydroxyquninolin-4-ons and 4 H -4-Hydroxy-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxides
T Prenzel, T Wirtanen, SR Waldvogel
Electrochemical Society Meeting Abstracts 241, 1849-1849 , 2022
2022
Tetramethylammonium fluoride: fundamental properties and applications in CF bond-forming reactions and as a base
V Iashin, T Wirtanen, JE Perea-Buceta
Catalysts 12 (2), 233 , 2022
2022
Citations: 35
Carbocatalytic cascade synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines from aldehydes and 2‐vinyl anilines
MK Mäkelä, E Bulatov, K Malinen, J Talvitie, M Nieger, M Melchionna, ...
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 363 (15), 3775-3782 , 2021
2021
Citations: 31
Cathodic corrosion of metal electrodes—how to prevent it in electroorganic synthesis
T Wirtanen, T Prenzel, JP Tessonnier, SR Waldvogel
Chemical reviews 121 (17), 10241-10270 , 2021
2021
Citations: 195

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

Cathodic corrosion of metal electrodes—how to prevent it in electroorganic synthesis
T Wirtanen, T Prenzel, JP Tessonnier, SR Waldvogel
Chemical reviews 121 (17), 10241-10270 , 2021
2021
Citations: 195
Recent advances in the electrochemical reduction of substrates involving N− O bonds
T Wirtanen, E Rodrigo, SR Waldvogel
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 362 (11), 2088-2101 , 2020
2020
Citations: 133
Cycloisomerization of 2-alkynylanilines to indoles catalyzed by carbon-supported gold nanoparticles and subsequent homocoupling to 3, 3′-biindoles
JE Perea-Buceta, T Wirtanen, OV Laukkanen, MK Mäkelä, M Nieger, ...
Angew. Chem. Int. Ed 52, 11835-11839 , 2013
2013
Citations: 119
Carbocatalysed Oxidative C C Homocouplings of Benzo‐Fused Heterocycles
T Wirtanen, MK Mäkelä, J Sarfraz, P Ihalainen, S Hietala, M Melchionna, ...
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 357 (16‐17), 3718-3726 , 2015
2015
Citations: 58
Selective and Scalable Electrosynthesis of 2H ‐2‐(Aryl)‐benzo[ d ]‐1,2,3‐triazoles and Their N‐Oxides by Using Leaded Bronze Cathodes
T Wirtanen, E Rodrigo, SR Waldvogel
Chemistry–A European Journal 26 (25), 5592-5597 , 2020
2020
Citations: 46
Photoreductive Removal of O -Benzyl Groups from Oxyarene N -Heterocycles Assisted by O -Pyridine–pyridone Tautomerism
AR Todorov, T Wirtanen, J Helaja
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 82 (24), 13756-13767 , 2017
2017
Citations: 45
Tetramethylammonium fluoride: fundamental properties and applications in CF bond-forming reactions and as a base
V Iashin, T Wirtanen, JE Perea-Buceta
Catalysts 12 (2), 233 , 2022
2022
Citations: 35
Carbocatalytic cascade synthesis of polysubstituted quinolines from aldehydes and 2‐vinyl anilines
MK Mäkelä, E Bulatov, K Malinen, J Talvitie, M Nieger, M Melchionna, ...
Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis 363 (15), 3775-3782 , 2021
2021
Citations: 31
Intermolecular oxidative dehydrogenative 3, 3′-coupling of benzo [b] furans and benzo [b] thiophenes promoted by DDQ/H+: total synthesis of shandougenine B
T Wirtanen, M Muuronen, J Hurmalainen, HM Tuononen, M Nieger, ...
Organic Chemistry Frontiers 3 (12), 1738-1745 , 2016
2016
Citations: 31
Air oxidized activated carbon catalyst for aerobic oxidative aromatizations of N-heterocycles
L Enders, DS Casadio, S Aikonen, A Lenarda, T Wirtanen, T Hu, S Hietala, ...
Catalysis Science & Technology 11 (17), 5962-5972 , 2021
2021
Citations: 28
Carbon dioxide use and removal: Prospects and policies
L Kujanpää, A Reznichenko, H Saastamoinen, S Mäkikouri, S Soimakallio, ...
Prime Minister's Office Finland , 2023
2023
Citations: 27
Phosphorus-containing lignin intermediates as reactive bio-based flame-retardants for polyurethane and acrylic coatings for wood
M Puyadena, P Widsten, T Wirtanen, M Kellock, G Ortega, A Mugica, ...
Industrial Crops and Products 220, 119261 , 2024
2024
Citations: 25
Direct Electrochemical Synthesis of 2,3‐Disubstituted Quinoline N‐ oxides by Cathodic Reduction of Nitro Arenes
J Winter, T Prenzel, T Wirtanen, D Schollmeyer, SR Waldvogel
Chemistry–A European Journal 29 (12), e202203319 , 2023
2023
Citations: 21
Carbocatalytic Oxidative Dehydrogenative Couplings of (Hetero) Aryls by Oxidized Multi‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquid Phase
T Wirtanen, S Aikonen, M Muuronen, M Melchionna, M Kemell, F Davodi, ...
Chemistry–A European Journal 25 (53), 12288-12293 , 2019
2019
Citations: 21
Cyclic carbonates as building blocks for non‐isocyanate polyurethanes
S Kotanen, T Wirtanen, R Mahlberg, A Anghelescu‐Hakala, ...
Journal of Applied Polymer Science 140 (24), e53964 , 2023
2023
Citations: 18
Choice of the Right Supporting Electrolyte in Electrochemical Reductions: A Principal Component Analysis
F Mast, MM Hielscher, T Wirtanen, M Erichsen, J Gauss, G Diezemann, ...
Journal of the American Chemical Society 146 (22), 15119-15129 , 2024
2024
Citations: 16
Gold (I)-catalyzed 1, 3-O-transposition of ynones: Mechanism and catalytic acceleration with electron-rich aldehydes
S Aikonen, M Muuronen, T Wirtanen, S Heikkinen, J Musgreave, J Burés, ...
ACS catalysis 8 (2), 960-967 , 2018
2018
Citations: 16
Divergent carbocatalytic routes in oxidative coupling of benzofused heteroaryl dimers: A mechanistic update
DS Casadio, S Aikonen, A Lenarda, M Nieger, T Hu, S Taubert, ...
Chemistry–A European Journal 27 (16), 5283-5291 , 2021
2021
Citations: 14
Gold (III)-Catalyzed Enynamine–Cyclopentadiene Cycloisomerization with Chirality Transfer: An Experimental and Theoretical Study Indicating Involvement of Dual Au (III) Push …
T Wirtanen, M Muuronen, M Melchionna, M Patzschke, J Helaja
The Journal of Organic Chemistry 79 (21), 10269-10283 , 2014
2014
Citations: 13
Carbon materials as catalytic tools for oxidative dehydrogenations and couplings in liquid phase
A Lenarda, T Wirtanen, J Helaja
Synthesis 55 (01), 45-61 , 2023
2023
Citations: 11

Tom Wirtanen

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Scopus Publications

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS