The conversion of guaiacol into the nylon precursors, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, is catalyzed by palladium supported on high surface area ceria (Pd/HS CeO₂) under mild conditions (100 °C, ≤1 bar H₂) via sequential hydrodemethoxylation and hydrogenation. In contrast, the 2-methoxycyclohexanol side product is generated by direct guaiacol hydrogenation. Reaction selectivity is determined by competing C-O bond hydrogenolysis versus arene hydrogenation. Hydrogenolysis selectivity increases as H₂ pressure decreases, and over 80% H₂ is incorporated into the products at 1 bar H₂. Higher reactivity of guaiacol than anisole implies that the hydroxyl group is essential in Pd/HS CeO₂ catalysis. Participation of water in the conversion is evidenced by deuterium incorporation at non-exchangeable positions when the reaction is performed in D₂O. The combination of near quantitative mass balance of H₂, high recyclability, and use of water as a solvent offers a simple, green and efficient conversion of lignin-derived aromatics into commercial products.

在连续的加氢脱甲氧基化和氢化作用下，在温和的条件下（100°C，≤1bar H ₂），负载在高表面积二氧化铈（Pd / HS CeO ₂）上的钯催化了愈创木酚向尼龙前体环己醇和环己酮的转化。相反，通过直接愈创木酚氢化产生2-甲氧基环己醇副产物。反应选择性是通过竞争CO键氢解与芳烃氢化来确定的。氢解选择性随H ₂压力降低而增加，并且在1 bar H _2下将超过80％的H ₂掺入产物中。愈创木酚的反应性高于苯甲醚，表明羟基在Pd / HS CeO _2中必不可少催化。在转换的水参与当反应在d执行通过氘掺入在不可交换的位置证实₂ O. h的接近定量质量平衡的组合₂，高可回收性，和使用水作为溶剂提供了一个简单，绿色高效地将木质素衍生的芳烃转化为商品。