A Novel Two‐Step Conversion of Lignin‐Derived Phenol to Benzene Through Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation

Arenes possess high energy density and outstanding combustion performance, making them key components of aviation fuels. However, the conversion of lignin-derived phenolic compounds to arenes typically requires high temperatures (above 300°C), which not only alters the catalyst structure and promotes side reactions but also increases energy consumption and potential safety risks. In this study, a green and environmentally friendly two-step method for the low-temperature conversion of phenol to benzene was proposed, achieving controllable product selectivity at low temperatures. The hydrogenation of phenol occurred efficiently at room temperature and achieved 100% conversion of cyclohexanol. Then, the dehydration and dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol was performed at a low temperature of 200°C, resulting in 90.1% selectivity of benzene. In addition, the catalyst showed good cycling stability, with the benzene selectivity remaining at 84.6% after four reaction cycles. Based on the effect of reaction time on product distribution, a proposed reaction pathway for cyclohexanol to benzene was discussed. Moreover, the comparison between this two-step method and previously reported one-step methods for phenol to benzene was carried out, highlighting the superiority of this work.