Zhang, JiaguangLombardo, LorisGözaydın, GökalpDyson, Paul JosephYan, Ning2018-08-302018-08-302018-08-30201810.1016/S1872-2067(18)63132-8https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/148066Transformation of lignin into high-value chemicals is hampered by the complexity of monomers obtained from lignin depolymerization. Here we report a strategy, composed of hydro-demethoxylation and de-alkylation reactions, that is able to chemically converge various lignin-derived phenolic monomers into phenol in a single-step. Using 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol as a model compound, Pt/C exhibited the best performance in hydro-demethoxylation reaction affording >80% 4-propylphenol from 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol, while H-ZSM-5 was identified as the most suitable catalyst for de-alkylation, achieving 83% yield of phenol from 4-propylphenol. Since the two catalysts operate under compatible conditions, combining the two catalysts to simultaneously promote both hydro-demethoxylation and de-alkylation reactions was achieved. Configuration of how to organize the catalysts is a critical parameter, where the physical mixture of the two was most effective, providing over 60% phenol from 2-methoxy-4-propylphenol in a single-step.text::journal::journal article::research article