A Route for Lignin and Bio‐Oil Conversion: Dehydroxylation of Phenols into Arenes by Catalytic Tandem Reactions

Finding a workaround: The conversion of lignin into low-boiling-point arenes instead of high-boiling-point phenols could greatly facilitate conventional refinery processes. A new procedure for the depolymerization of lignin and simultaneous conversion phenols into arenes is described. The method can also be rendered as a fundamental finding for the upgrade of bio-oils to arenes under mild conditions.