Effects of Lewis Acid Catalysts on the Hydrogenation and Cracking of Two-Ring Aromatic and Hydroaromatic Structures Related to Coal

An investigation was carried out of the hydrogenation and cracking of two-ring aromatic and hydroaromatic compounds catalyzed by ZnCl{sub 2} and AlCl{sub 3}. The rates of both processes are strongly affected by the Bronsted acidity of the active catalyst [e.g., H{sup +}(MX{sub n}Y){sup -}] and the Bronsted basicity of the aromatic portions of the reactant, the latter characteristic being enhanced by either methyl or hydroxyl substitution. The source of hydrogen used for hydrogenation depends on the choice of catalyst. In the presence of AlCl{sub 3}, Scholl condensation of aromatic nuclei serves as the principle source of hydrogen. Molecular hydrogen is used exclusively, though, when hydrogenation is catalyzed by ZnCl{sub 2}. The formation of reaction products and the trends in reactant reactivity are discussed on the basis of carbonium ion mechanisms