The　design　of　a　highly　active　Cu-Co　catalyst　for　catalytic　transfer　hydrogenolysis　of　lignin　without　the　use　of　external　hydrogen　remains　highly　challenging.　In　this　work,　Cu2O　was　initially　encapsulated　in　ZIF-67,　and　subsequently　Cu2O@ZIF-67　was　utilized　as　a　precursor　and　sacrificial　template　to　prepare　the　unique　double　core–shell　hollow　nanocage　CuO@Co3O4.　Co　and　Cu,　serving　as　Lewis　acid　sites　and　dehydrogenation　sites　for　the　hydrogen-donor　solvent　isopropanol,　respectively,　exhibited　synergistic　enhancement,　further　increasing　the　catalytic　activity.　Under　the　optimal　conditions　of　220　°C,　1　MPa　N2,　and　4　h,　the　catalyst　achieved　100　%　conversion　of　2-phenoxy-1-phenylethanol　and　100　%　yield　towards　cyclohexanol　and　ethylbenzene.　Furthermore,　the　catalyst　remained　stable　and　reusable　after　5　cycles,　providing　a　practicable　guidance　for　the　value-added　conversion　of　lignin.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.