An acidic ionic liquid modified microfiber attapulgite-supported nickel for catalytic hydroconversion of α,ω-diarylalkanes

•Ni/MFA@AIL proved to be effective for the CHCs of α,ω-diarylalkanes.•Ni/MFA@AIL effectively catalyzed H+, H−, and H…H transfer.•Cyclanes are the main compounds from the CHCs of α,ω-diarylalkanes.

An acidic ionic liquid modified microfiber attapulgite (MFA)-supported nickel was prepared by thermally decomposing nickel tetracarbonyl onto MFA modified with an acidic ion liquid (AIL, 1-sulfobutyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate). It was characterized with multiple instruments and used for catalyzing hydroconversion of coal-related model compounds (CRMCs) di(1-naphthyl)methane, diphenylmethane, bibenzyl, and 1,3-diphenylpropane. The results indicate that Ni/MFA@AIL effectively catalyzes hydroconversion of the CRMCs to afford cyclanes and alkylcyclanes by inducing the formation of H+, H−, and biatomic active hydrogen species.