Solubility increase of coals by the reaction with alcohol — elucidation of reaction mechanism using model compounds

The reaction mechanism of coal-ethanol reaction was examined using model compounds: phenol, benzylphenylether, diphenylmethane and anthracene. The main reaction for these compounds was the splitting of ether bonds, ethylation of benzene nucleii, hydrogenation of aromatic nucleii and the splitting of methylene linkages. The most important reactions were the first two types. The splitting of ether linkages would reduce the molecular weight of coal and ethylation of aromatic rings would be favorable to the easy dissolution of coal in solvents.