Quantum Chemistry Studies on the Free-radical Growth Mechanism of Polycyclic Arenes from Benzene Precursors

The free-radical growth mechanisms for the formation of polycyclic arenes (PCAs) were constructed based on the block unit of benzene, and were calculated by the quantum chemistry PM3 method. Two kinds of reaction paths are proposed and discussed. The calculation results show that the formation of PCAs is only controlled by the elimination of H atom from benzene, and the corresponding activation energy is 307.60 kJ·mol−1. H2 is only the effluent gas in our proposed reaction mechanism, and the calculation results are in accord with the experimental facts.