Populus deltoides was treated with straight chain alcohols from methanol to n-hexanol, mono and triethanolamine, water, ethyleneglycol, acetone, cyclohexane and lactic acid. A batch reactor was used in all the runs and the temperature range used was from 100 to 320 degrees C. A reaction ordinate concept was used to evaluate the treatment severities. The results of these experiments showed a significant influence of the solvent on the extent of liquefaction of wood as well as on the holocellulose and lignin contents of the residues. An attempt to relate the liquefaction profiles to the solubility parameters of the solvents is discussed.