Alkyl　phenol　is　an　essential　chemical　intermediate　that　is　in　high　demand　in　the　chemical　industry.　The　synthesis　of　alkyl　phenols　from　lignin-derived　molecules　is　one　of　the　most　promising　routes　for　utilizing　biomass　resources.　Herein,　we　report　the　catalytic　hydrodeoxygenation　(HDO)　of　dihydroeugenol　(DHE)　to　alkyl　phenols　over　a　highly　dispersed　Pd/α-MoC　catalyst　with　a　substrate　conversion　of　98%　and　a　selectivity　of　96%　to　alkyl　phenols.　The　Pd/α-MoC　catalyst　prepared　by　co-precipitation　and　temperature-programmed　carbonization　exhibits　exceptional　HDO　activity　under　mild　conditions　with　a　low　H2　pressure　(1–10　bars).　The　characterizations　of　the　catalyst　suggest　that　Pd　are　highly　dispersed　on　the　α-MoC　matrix.　The　reaction　mechanism　was　investigated　using　the　substrate　scope　experiments.　Under　ambient　pressure,　the　abundant　oxygen　vacancies　and　acidity　sites　on　Pd/α-MoC　enable　the　selective　hydrodeoxygenation　of　lignin　monomers.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.