The　conversion　of　biomass-derived　substrates　to　1,2-butanediol　(1,2-BDO)　is　an　important　process　for　biomass　valorization,　but　the　low　yield　of　1,2-BDO　and　unclear　reaction　pathways　and　catalytic　mechanisms　hinder　its　development.　To　address　these　challenges,　this　review　proposes　that　generating　C4　intermediates　and　transforming　them　to　1,2-BDO　are　two　critical　procedures　for　enhancing　the　yield　of　the　target　product.　It　is　suggested　that　the　specific　functional　catalysts　should　be　designed　to　facilitate　these　two　steps　and　inhibit　side　reactions,　thus　achieving　progress　in　yield.　Considering　the　possible　presence　of　multiple　intermediates　in　the　reaction　process,　innovative　approaches　and　rational　detection　methods　are　put　forward　to　reveal　the　pathways　of　1,2-BDO　production.　Specifically,　potential　reaction　pathways　are　proposed,　stepwise　advancement　and　feedback　should　be　guided　to　compare　the　product　distributions　and　model　molecules　during　the　conversion　process,　and　combined　with　specific　detection　methods　such　as　isotopic　exchange　method　and　situ　on-line　Fourier　transform　infrared　spectroscopy　to　clarify　the　pathways.　According　to　the　reaction　characteristics,　adjusting　the　Brønsted　to　Lewis　acid　ratios,　base　strength,　oxidation　state,　and　combined　with　theoretical　calculations　to　reveal　the　mechanisms　that　promote　the　formation　of　the　target　product　and　inhibit　side　reactions.　Research　breakthroughs　in　transforming　biomass-derived　substrates　to　1,2-BDO　with　these　approaches　are　anticipated.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.