Question

Naphthalene undergoes reduction with H2 in the presence of Ni catalyst at high temperature and pressure to give

Answer 1

Explanation:

Is there any reason why H2/Ni leads to trans-decalin? I knew from high school that catalytic hydrogenations are always syn.

Reductions of naphthalene with different reducing agents

Answer 2

DECALIN IS FORMED WHEN NAPHTHALENE UNDERGOES CATALYTIC HYDROGENATION.

Explanation:

• The reaction of an unsaturated compound with hydrogen in presence of nickle/platinum catalyst is called catalytic hydrogenation.
• Naphthalene is an unsaturated compound with two fused benzene rings.
• Catalytic hydrogenation reduces the unsaturated hydrocarbons to saturated hydrocarbons.
• All the double of naphthalene will get reduced to single bonds and the compound formed is called decalin, The compound formed will have the molecular formula of C₁₀H₁₈.