FeCl<sub>3</sub>‑Promoted Photocatalytic Cleavage\nof C<sub>α</sub>–C<sub>β</sub> Bond in Lignin and\nLignin Model to Benzoic Acid

Because of the complex structure and inherent inert chemical\nactivity\nof lignin, it is still challenging to depolymerize lignin to obtain\nvaluable chemicals efficiently. Here, we present an FeCl<sub>3</sub>-promoted photocatalytic depolymerization strategy to realize the\nC<sub>α</sub>–C<sub>β</sub> oxidative cleavage\nof lignin model compounds at room temperature. The method generates\nbenzoic acid and phenol compounds in high yields. In addition, the\nmethod is effective for the depolymerization of organosolv lignin\nby cleavage of the products of C<sub>α</sub>–C<sub>β</sub> bonds and affords the corresponding products. This strategy provides\na method of using an economical photocatalyst to depolymerize lignin\nand provides a reference for the industrial depolymerization of lignin.