Metal-free and mild photo-thermal synergism in ionic liquids for lignin Cα–Cβ bond cleavage to provide aldehydes

Photo-thermal synergism of UV light and heating could excite lignin molecules and induce direct cleavage of the C_α–C_β bond in lignin β-O-4 and β-1 interlinkages under metal-free and mild conditions with the assistance of ionic liquids.