A Mo(OCH 2 CH 3) x /NaCl catalyst showed high efficiency in supercritical ethanol without adding H 2 in the conversion of Kraft lignin to chemicals, including C 6 alcohols, C 8 -C 10 esters, benzyl alcohols and arenes. Control experiments were done with MoCl 5 , NaOC 2 H 5 and the physical mixture of them. The Mo(OCH 2 CH 3) x /NaCl catalyst exhibited superior activity among the samples examined. The overall yield increased as the reaction temperature increased from 260° to 300°C. The yield of aromatic compounds achieved 303 mg/g lignin over the Mo(OCH 2 CH 3) x /NaCl catalyst at 300 °C for 6 h. MoCl 5 and NaOC 2 H 5 forms Mo(OCH 2 CH 3) x in the catalyst preparation, which behaves as the active species in Kraft lignin conversion. The primary aromatics formed from the catalytic lignin depolymerization steps may undergo secondary reactions to form the final products. [Display omitted] • Kraft lignin is effectively depolymerized. • Mo(OCH 2 CH 3) x is verified highly active for Kraft lignin conversion. • The aromatics may undergo secondary reactions to form the final products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]