Activated carbon-catalyzed hydrogenation of polycyclic arenes

Benzene and four polycyclic arenes (PAs) were used as substrates and their hydrogenation reactions were conducted over activated carbon (AC) at 300 °C to examine the relationship between their molecular structures and reactivities. The results show that the AC catalyzed the hydrogenation of the PAs selectively and that the reactivities of the arenes toward hydrogenation were dependent on the hydrogen-accepting abilities of the arenes and on the adsorption strengths of the arenes on the catalyst surface. The related mechanisms for hydrogen transfer were also discussed.