Dehydrogenation reactions

A method is disclosed for dehydrogenating a parafinic or naphthenic compound and for dehydrocyclizing a paraffinic compound comprising a straight chain of at least 5 carbon atoms, comprising: contacting an aforesaid compound under dehydrogenation conditions comprising a temperature in the range of from about 465 DEG C. to about 650 DEG C. with an active carbon catalyst having a cage-like structure and a BET surface area of at least 800 square meters per gram and a bulk density of at least 0.1 gram per cubic centimeter and comprising a substantially uniform dispersion of a metal, metal-containing material, or both in a porous carbon matrix, wherein the dispersed metal and metal in the dispersed metal-containing material are each a transition metal and wherein the total concentration of dispersed metal and dispersed metal-containing material is from about 0.001 to about 30 weight percent, calculated as the elemental metal and based on the weight of the catalyst.