Lignin is a complex polymeric molecule constituting various linkages between aromatic moieties.Typically, the -O-4 linkage accounts for more than half of the linkage structures present in lignin.The present study focuses on the oxidative transformation of veratryl alcohol (VA) -a compound Prolonged reaction time led to significant formation of the decarbonylated product veratrol from VAld. When the reaction was completed under 20 bars of argon in methanol instead of water, the methyl ether of VA (i.e. 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethyl)benzene) prevailed, indicating that methanol protecting the hydroxyl group in VA from being oxidized to VAld. Catalysts containing alternative transition metals (Mn, Co, Cu and Ag) supported on Al 2 O 3 gave significantly lower activities compared to Ru/Al 2 O 3 under identical reaction conditions. The Ru/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was reused in three consecutive reaction runs in water, but a significantly lower VAld yield was obtained after the third cycle possibly due to leaching of Ru from the support.