Molybdenum carbide (Mo₂C), a non-precious metal catalyst, used for vapor phase hydrodeoxygenation of phenolic compound mixtures at ambient pressure.

High aromatics yield (>90%) for mixtures containing m-cresol, anisole, 1,2-dimethoxybenzene, and guaiacol can be achieved with high hydrogen efficiency.

Undesired successive hydrogenation reactions of aromatics over Mo₂C were inhibited due to in situ oxygen modification of the catalyst.