Table 2. Synthesis of ethanol from different aryl methyl ethers/lignins, CO₂ and H₂ ^a .

Entry	Substrates	TON of ethanol	Yield of ethanol c (%)	Yield of propanol c (%)	Conversion of substrate d (%)
1		74	41.1	1.4	100
2		126	35.0	1.3	100
3		72	40.0	<1	71.2
4		145	40.3	1.0	74.3
5		72	40.0	1.2	79.2
6		69	38.3	<1	76.4
7		61	33.9	<1	74.7
8		71	39.4	<1	77.5
9		68	37.8	<1	76.1
10		72	40.0	1.1	100
11		51	28.3	<1	100
12		60	33.3	<1	100
13		58	32.2	<1	100
14		65	36.1	1.1	83.3
15 b	Eucalyptus lignin	38	37.3	0	76.5
16 b	Willow lignin	41	38.1	0	77.8

^aReaction conditions: 20 μmol [RuCl₂(CO)₃]₂ and 60 μmol Co₂(CO)₈ (based on the metal), 20 μmol triphos, 2.2 mmol LiI, 2 mL DMI, 3.6 mmol substrate, 3 MPa CO₂ and 5 MPa H₂ (at room temperature), 190 °C, 10 h.

^b0.4 g lignin was added before the reaction.

^cThe yield was calculated based on the mole of methoxyl group in the substrate.

^dThe aryl part of the aryl methyl ether was converted into the corresponding phenol, thus the yield of phenol was equal or very close to the conversion of the corresponding substrate.