Lignin conversion processes experience challenging issues including char formation, lower degree of depolymerization and lower product yield with no selectivity. Zeolite ZSM-5 was loaded with Cu and Mo using the reductive deposition–precipitation method. The metal loaded into ZSM-5 was found to be amorphous and nanostructured as confirmed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. The lignin conversion products were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. We demonstrate here the one-pot Cu/Mo loaded zeolite ZSM-5 catalyzed conversion of lignin into alkyl phenols with highly minimized char formation. The process yields alkyl phenols with high conversion (95.7%) and high selectivity of up to 70. 3% for a particular phenol.