title: Birch reduction of benzene in a low-temperature plasma.
abstract: Selective and specific dihydrogenation of benzene and other arenes has been observed in a low-temperature helium plasma. A surface Birch reduction mechanism has been proposed in which benzene molecules adsorbed on the discharge surface capture low-energy surface-adsorbed electrons and subsequently undergo protonation (see picture). Gas-phase oxidation processes accompany the reduction reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Zhenli
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Xinrong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: R Graham
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Cooks