Aromatic compounds synthesis from cyclopentadiene

Abstract Aromatic compounds synthesis from cyclopentadiene or dicyclopentadiene was studied with platinum catalysts supported on zeolites under hydrogen atmosphere. It was revealed that aromatic compounds were not formed through cyclopentane and n-pentane, but they were primarily formed by C-C bond scission of bicyclic compounds such as methylindane and tetralin which were derived by the bridge-head C-C bond fracture of dicyclopentadiene. Selectivity to product was supposed to depend both on acidity of the zeolite and on the hydrogenation activity of platinum. The highest BTX yield, about 60%, was obtained on 0.5%Pt/H-ZSM-5.