Enhanced selective cleavage of aryl C-O bond by atomically dispersed Pt on α-MoC for hydrodeoxygenation of anisole

•Pt/α-MoC catalysts were prepared and investigated for the hydrodeoxygenation of anisole to benzene.•The Pt/α-MoC catalysts exhibit high turnover rate, high selectivity to HDO product and reduced activation energy.•The selective cleavage of the aryl C-O bond is enhanced to achieve one-step direct hydrodeoxygenation on the optimal Pt/α-MoC catalyst.•The single-atomically dispersed PtMo bimetallic sites are identified in the catalyst and serve as the HDO catalytic sites by X-ray absorption spectrum and temperature programmed surface reaction.