Kinetic simulation of the thermal degradation of phenethyl phenyl ether, a model compound for the β-O-4 linkage in lignin

► Pyrolysis of phenethyl phenyl ether, a β-O-4 model compound for lignin. ► Kinetic Monte Carlo based on DFT rate and equilibrium constants. ► α/β-Product selectivity agrees qualitatively with experiment. ► New carbon-carbon phenyl shift reaction identified as part of the mechanism.