Contrasting retrogressive rearrangement pathways during thermolysis of silica-immobilized benzyl phenyl ether

Many coal model compound studies have focused on the mechanisms of bond cleavage reactions, and the means to alter reaction conditions to promote such reactions. However, there has become increasing interest in elucidating mechanisms associated with retrogressive or retrograde reactions in coal processing, which involve the formation of refractory bonds. Retrograde reactions inhibit efficient thermochemical processing of coals into liquid fuels, which has been particularly well-documented for low rank coals where abundant oxygen-containing functional groups are thought to play a key role in the chemistry. Much less is known about retrogressive reactions for ether-containing model compounds. Radical recombination through ring coupling of phenoxy radicals in benzyl phenyl ether (BPE) is known to lead to more refractory diphenylmethane linkages to a limited extent. Since this chemistry may be attributed at least in part to cage recombination, it could be promoted in a diffusionally constrained environment such as in the coal macromolecule. Using silica-immobilization to simulate restricted diffusion in coal, the authors have found that retrogressive reactions can be promoted for certain hydrocarbon model compounds. The authors have now begun an examination of the thermolysis behavior of silica-immobilized benzyl phenyl ether at 275--325 C. The initial results indicate that two retrogressive reaction pathways, radical recombination and molecular rearrangement through Si-O-C linkage to the surface of PhOCH{center_dot}Ph, are promoted by restricted diffusion. Remarkably, the retrograde products typically account for 50 mol% of the thermolysis products