Stability and partial oligomerization of naphthalene under high pressure at room temperature

Abstract

The stability and pressure-induced chemical reactions of naphthalene were investigated at room temperature at pressures up to 23GPa. In-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicated that naphthalene retained its crystal structure up to ∼20GPa, whereas a solid amorphous phase was observed in the recovered samples. Based on microanalysis of the recovered samples using Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), naphthalene dimer and trimer isomers were observed at pressures exceeding 15GPa. The dimers were classified as products of simple dimerization, naphthylation, and condensation, similar to the case of the pressure-induced dimerization of benzene, indicating a similar dimerization mechanism for naphthalene.