Abstract
The effects of solvents on the hydrogenation of benzene and pyridine have been studied with nickel catalysts supported by active carbon, alumina, and silica. In the case of benzene, the effects of solvents were almost independent of the nature of the carriers. The reaction proceeded most rapidly when benezene was hydrogenated in hydrocarbons or without solvents. The reaction was retarded by the solvents having oxygen atoms. In the case of pyridine, the effects of solvents were much different from those observed in the case of benzene. Many of the solvents having oxygen atoms accelerated the reaction. The extent of acceleration varied a little with the nature of supports. Methanol and water were exceptions; in the case of nickel-active carbon catalyst, the accelerating effects were hardly noticed, but in the cases of nickel-alumina and nickel-silica, the solvents strongly retarded the reaction.
