“…Lignin modifications, including methylation, demethylation, , hydrolytic depolymerization, , and phenolation, , are extensively applied in lignin research studies. As one of the most efficient ways to improve the reactivity of lignin, phenolation efficiently increases lignin’s phenolic hydroxyl group (Ph-OH) contents and active sites, which facilitates the utilization of technical lignins. , Lignin phenolation under acidic conditions is the most commonly used method. − Under strongly acidic conditions, phenols could be grafted on lignin by the electrophilic substitution between phenol and the α or γ-carbocation at a low pH value after dehydration, and then because of the cleavage of β–O–4, Cα–Cβ, and Cβ–Cγ bonds, new reactive sites are generated by releasing formaldehyde (Figure ). The break of the side chain linkages leads to a reduction in the molecular weight of the phenolated lignin, and it is found that the reaction activity of the resultant lignin has been significantly improved due to the increase of Ph-OH groups. , For instance, phenolated lignins are excellent feedstocks or additives to produce various functional materials with improved performances, such as lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resin adhesives, , thermo-sensitive gel, polyurethane foams, biophenol-hydroxymethylfurfural resins, and so forth.…”