One‐Pot Catalytic Cascade for the Depolymerization of the Lignin β‐O‐4 Motif to Non‐phenolic Dealkylated Aromatics

Aromatic monomers obtained by selective depolymerization of the lignin β-O-4 motif are typically phenolic and contain (oxygenated) alkyl substitutions. This work reveals the potential of a one-pot catalytic lignin β-O-4 depolymerization cascade strategy that yields a uniform set of methoxylated aromatics without alkyl side-chains. This cascade consists of the selective acceptorless dehydrogenation of the γ-hydroxy group, a subsequent retro-aldol reaction that cleaves the C