Benzene formation during aquasonolysis of selected cyclic C6Hx hydrocarbons

Yield and selectivity of benzene produced from aquasonolysis of the selected cyclic C6Hx hydrocarbons, i.e., 1,4-cyclohexadiene, 1,3-cyclohexadiene, cyclohexene, cyclohexane, and methylcyclopentane, have been investigated in this work. Benzene cannot be detected during the aquasonolysis of cyclohexane and methylcyclopentane. The order of yield and selectivity of benzene was as follows: 1,4-cyclohexadiene ≫ 1,3-cyclohexadiene ≫ cyclohexene. The initial concentrations of substrates can affect the yield of benzene. During the aquasonolysis of 1,3-cyclohexadiene and cyclohexene, other C6 species except benzene were also found. It was suggested that benzene could directly be generated by formal dehydrogenation of cyclic C6Hx hydrocarbons.