Lignocellulose refinery

A method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a mixture of compounds of formula (I):
• wherein:
• each occurrence of R1 and R2 is independently selected to be —O—CH3 or —H;
• each occurrence of R3 is independently selected to be —H, or -methyl, or -ethyl, or -propyl, or -propylene, or -1-alkoxypropyl, or -3-hydroxypropyl;
• b) preparing a reaction mixture by contacting said mixture of compounds of step a) in gas phase, with a reaction mixture containing a metal-based catalyst, under a hydrogen containing gas atmosphere;
• wherein step b) is carried out at a temperature of at least 265° C. and a partial hydrogen pressure of at least 0.2 bar;
• c) obtaining from step b) products comprising a mixture of compounds of formula (Ia), as well as methane or methanol or both;
• wherein:
• R1 is independently selected to be —CH3 or —H;
• R2 is independently selected to be -propyl or -ethyl;
• q represents the position on the aromatic ring, with q being any one of the numbers 2-6.