Mechanism of pyrolysis of p-xylene

Abstract 1. 1. The pyrolysis of p -xylene at temperatures of 830°–1000°C with different hydrocarbon partial pressures (argon/ p -xylene=10 : 1, 20 : 1, 30 : 1) has been investigated. 2. 2. The suggested radical-chain mechanism of p -xylene pyrolysis at high temperatures has an initiation stage leading to the formation of a p -methylbenzyl radical. 3. 3. It is concluded that toluene is formed mainly by the hydrodealkylation of p -xylene under the given conditions.