Hydrogenation of Anthracene and Dehydrogenation of Perhydroanthracene on Pt/C Catalysts

The hydrogenation of anthracene on a heterogeneous catalyst containing 3 wt % Pt/C (Aldrich) at 215, 245, and 280°C and the pressures of 40 and 90 atm is studied. The hydrogenation of anthracene to a completely hydrogenated product is considered in detail. The final product (perhydroanthracene) consists of five conformational isomers with total selectivity of more than 99%. The ratio of perhydroanthracene isomers in the end product is shown to be determined by the conditions ( P, T ) of hydrogenation. The rate of hydrogenation is found to slow upon an increase in the degree of benzene ring saturation. A mixture of perhydroanthracene isomers is dehydrogenated in an autoclave at 260−325°C on 3 wt % Pt/C catalyst (Aldrich) and in a flow reactor at 300–360°C on 3 wt% Pt/Sibunit catalyst. The reactivity of perhydroanthracene isomers in dehydrogenation is shown to differ.