Thermal reactions between alkanes and H2S or thiols at high pressure

Confined pyrolysis in gold cells of n-octane/H2S mixtures was carried out between 310 degrees C and 350 degrees C under 700 bar for durations of 3-13 days. The main products were thiophene, alkylthiophenes, octanethiols and alkyl-thiacycloalkanes and their quantities were measured. Some experiments were also carried out at 350 degrees C on n-octane/thiol mixtures and the results were compared to those obtained with H2S. The formation pathways of the main products, which are similar for both reactant mixtures, are proposed. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.