The first example of chemical depolymerization of lignin involving the redistribution mechanism with phenols in water with a copper catalyst was demonstrated. By using this new method, lignin can be depolymerized under mild conditions such as at 80 °C, atmospheric pressure. This invention is the first demonstration of the depolymerization of lignin using chemical degradation with phenols. The depolymerized oligomeric lignin can be repolymerized and form a polymer by the esterification of hydroxyl groups in the depolymerized oligomeric products with sebacoyl chloride.