Steam cracking in the presence of haematite catalyst was used for the upgrading of coal hydrogenation liquids with b.p. < 350°C. The degree of conversion to light hydrocarbon fractions was influenced by the process temperature and reached 50 wt% at 470°C. The study of transformation of individual compounds (tetralin, 1-naphthol, 1,2-dimethylnaphthalene) under the conditions of the upgrading process indicated that light distillate fractions are produced from heavy coal liquids mainly through dealkylation and hydrogenation of aromatic rings, with subsequent cracking of hydrogenated compounds.

High-quality alginite from the Ala-Kul' Gulf of Lake Balqash, Kazakhstan, and oxine, its artificial model, were put through short-term (60-90 min) hydrothermal treatment at 400 degrees C and 5-40 MPa with water alkali; the products formed (primary naphthoids) were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Primary naphthoids from balkhashite and the model substance were found to be similar in the composition and structure of their main organic components: carboxylic acids, ketones, and alkanes. Modem concepts of structural elements of sapropelite kerogen are considered, and some facts are given in support of the hypothesis of cross-linking carbon-carbon bonds. Judging by the composition and structure of the primary naphthoids, experimentally simulated structural elements of sapropelite kerogen decompose under hydrothermal conditions by the retroaldol reaction according to the concept of cross-linking carbon-carbon bonds.

It was found that the alkylation of p-tert-butylphenol (TBP) by olefins (cyclohexene, 1-hexene, styrene) and benzyl chloride in a liquid phase in the presence of solid heteropolyacids (HPA) H3PW12O40, H4SiW12O40 and 25% H3PW12040/SiO2 at 100-150-degrees-C gives 2,6-dialkyl-4-tert-butylphenols in a 63-90% yield. In the presence of o-xylene as tert-butyl group acceptor, 2,6-dialkylphenols were obtained in a high yield. it was shown that the alkylation of TBP by a alpha-methylstyrene gives 2-cumyl-4-tert-butylphenol in a 70% yield. it was found that the alkylation of TBP proceeds via the intermediate formation of alkyl phenyl ethers. The conclusion was made that the HPA are more active in the alkylation of TBP than H2SO4, are readily separated from the reaction mixture, and can be reused.

Aliphatic carboxylic acids of normal structure were obtained in high yields by high-temperature alkaline (HTA) hydrolysis of three Siberian sapropelitic coals. The carboxylic acids and other oxygen-containing components of the hydrolysates were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the relevance of the results to the molecular structure of the coals was considered. The same types of oxygen-containing components were present in the alkaline hydrolysates of each coal. The major portion of these components was formed during the HTA hydrolysis.

Liquid-phase alkylation of p-tert-butylphenol (TBP) and p-cresol by olefins and benzyl chloride in the presence of solid heteropoly acids (HPA) H3PW12O40 and 25% H3PW12O40/SiO2 at 100–150°C provides high yields of mono- and disubstituted products. HPAs are more active than H2SO4, easily separated from the reaction mixture and can be used repeatedly.

I. V. Kozhevnikov, V. I. Kim, E. P. Talzi and V. N. Sidelnikov, J. Chem. Soc., Chem. Commun., 1985, 1392 DOI: 10.1039/C39850001392

It has been established that in the oxidation of diethyl sulfide by18O2 in CH3C16O2H−H216O solution at 369 K catalyzed by heteropoly acids, sulfoxide and sulfone with 44–54%18O enrichment are formed. The process is accompanied by isotope exchange of molecular oxygen.