Recent Advances in Lignin Valorization: Catalytic Strategies for the Production of Renewable Aromatics

Lignin valorization remains a central yet unresolved bottleneck in the sustainable production of renewable aromatic chemicals, owing to its intrinsic structural heterogeneity and the facile condensation of lignin‐derived intermediates. Over the past decade, advances in catalysis have shifted the field toward strategies that exert precise control over bond scission, intermediate stabilization, and reaction pathway selection. This review critically examines recent progress in catalytic lignin valorization by contrasting stepwise and one‐step conversion strategies. Stepwise strategies, in which depolymerization and upgrading are deliberately decoupled, effectively suppress condensation reactions and enable independent optimization of catalytic functions; within this framework, reductive catalytic fractionation followed by upgrading is discussed, highlighting how metal identity, metal‐support interactions, and acidity synergistically govern selective bond cleavage while preserving aromatic integrity. In parallel, emerging one‐step conversion strategies are evaluated as fully integrated catalytic systems that couple depolymerization and upgrading within a single reaction environment, offering opportunities for process intensification but accompanied by inherent activity‐selectivity trade‐offs. By integrating insights across catalyst design and reaction pathway engineering, this review delineates key challenges, identifies fundamental trade‐offs, and outlines future directions toward scalable lignin‐to‐aromatics manufacturing.