Alkyl
diamondoid fuel mixtures have been prepared under moderate
conditions by AlBr3 catalyzed cracking of nonane and heptane
in the presence of adamantane. The fuel mixture prepared with heptane
as the alkyl source (HA) contains primarily 1-ethyl-3-methyl adamantane
and 1-propyladamantane, while the mixture prepared from nonane (NA)
contains primarily C13–C15 alkyl diamondoids.
Both fuel mixtures exhibit densities greater than 0.9 g/mL and volumetric
net heats of combustion approximately 10 and 6% higher than conventional
jet and diesel fuels, respectively. The structural diversity of the
fuel blends and presence of multiple branch sites lead to lower viscosities
compared to pure alkyl diamondoid fuels. The lower molecular weight
blend, HA, exhibits a 40 °C kinematic viscosity of 3.22 mm2 s–1, well within the specification for
diesel fuel, and both blends have derived cetane numbers of >42,
suggesting
that they can be used directly in conventional diesel engines.