Phenolic Solvent-Assisted Hydrogenolysis of trans-Stilbene

Abstract

Phenolic solvents such as phenol, 3,4-xylenol, 2-naphthol, and 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthol greatly promote toluene formation in the hydrogenolysis of trans-stilbene, compared with hydroaromatic hydrocarbon solvents. Toluene is afforded in the thermal decomposition of the phenolic solvent adduct to trans-stilbene, not via bibenzyl.