| Abstract: | Thermal Reaction of Mono-n-alkyl-benzenes The pyrolysis of ethyl-( 1 ), n-propyl-( 2 ), n-hexyl-( 3 ) and n-octylbenzene ( 4 ) has been studied under conditions of steam cracking (600 to 800°C) in a laboratory scale tubular reactor. The overall activation energies determined for ( 1 ) to ( 4 ) were found to be nearly identical (221 to 227 kJ · mol−1) obviously caused by similar initial steps. The main liquid product observed was styren accompanied by ω-phenyl-1-alkenes and α-olefins. Benzene is an important side product of 1 . It might be formed mainly by a hydrogen assisted dealkylation via a cyclohexadienyl type radical as reactive intermediate. |
