FeS2-Catalyzed Hydrocracking of Diarylmethanes.

Hydrocracking reactions of diarylmethanes (DAMs) were carried out with FeS2 at 300°C to examine the structural effect of DAMs on their reactivities toward hydrocracking. The reactivities were dominated by the hydrogen-accepting abilities of the ipso-carbons in DAMs and the resonance stabilities of the resulting arylmethyl radicals.