Metal Effects on the Thermal Decomposition of exo-Tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene

We investigated the thermal decomposition of exo -tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene ( exo -THDCP, C 10 H 16 ) in the absence and presence of various metals, Ti, SS316, SS304, Fe, Ni, and Cu. It was found that conversion of exo -THDCP was faster in the presence of metals as compared to in their absence. The order of the metal effects on the increase in the conversion of exo -THDCP was Ti < SS316 < SS304 < Fe < Ni < Cu. The metal-induced increase in the conversion of exo -THDCP was higher at the higher temperature. In addition, the metal-induced increases in the rates of C 5–9, C 15–, and C sd product formations were higher than those of ≤C 4 and C 10–14 . The composition and crystallinity of metal surfaces were found to be associated with the distinct metal effects on the thermal decomposition of exo -THDCP.