Composition of the CnH2n蜢8 fraction from an alkylation reaction

The CnH2n‐8 distillation cut from the alkylation of benzene with tridecyl chlorides using AlCl3 catalysis has been examined. Spectroscopic techniques (mass spectra, infrared, ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance) were not able to resolve the question of whether these compounds are indans or tetralins. Aromatization of the distillation cut using a Pd/C catalyst gave a mixture of 1,4‐dialkylnaphthalenes, showing that the starting material was almost completely of the tetralin structure.