Process for the production of ultra high octane gasoline, and other fuels from aromatic distillates

A process for the production of high octane gasoline, or high octane gasoline blending components, from a sulfur-containing feed rich in fused two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons, inclusive of naphthalenes. The feed is hydrogenated in a first reaction zone to desulfurize the feed and saturate one ring of the fused two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons, but insufficient to saturate the second ring of said molecular species, to form tetralins. The product, as a feed, is reacted in a second reaction zone over a catalyst comprised of elemental iron and one or more alkali or alkaline-earth metals components to selectively hydrogenate and crack the previously hydrogenated fused two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons to produce lower molecular weight higher octane components suitable per se as gasoline, or gasoline blending components. The feed rich in fused two-ring aromatic hydrocarbons can be split from a wider boiling range hydrocarbon to obtain, additionally, a component rich in fused multi-ring aromatic hydrocarbons having three or more rings to the molecule, which fraction can also be hydrogenated to produce other fuels, or raw materials feed components.