Oxygen → Methane

Participants

Reaction Steps

Another feedstock is an ether of general formula R--O--R'. At least one of R or R' must have non-aromatic carbon attached to the oxygen, and otherwise are defined as R above. If R is non-aromatic and R' is aromatic such as in anisole, only the non-aromatic side of the ether will be hydrogenolyzed. Thus anisole will yield methane and phenol. If both R and R' are non-aromatic both sides will be hydrogenolyzed. Thus bibenzyl ether will yield two moles of toluene.

Provenance & Evidence