Oxidative transformations of cyclohexane,methylcyclopentane, and pentane on treatment with superelectrophiles based on polyhalomethane and aluminum halides

Cyclohexane and methylcyclopentane dimerize into dimethyldecalins on treatment with superelectrophilic systems containing polyhalomethanes (CBr₄, CCl₄, CHCl₃) and aluminum halides (AlBr₃, AlCl₃). At 20 °C, the yields of C₁₂H₂₂ hydrocarbons reach 140 mol.% based on the superelectrophile. Under the action of CBr₄·2AlBr₃ at 20 °C in CH₂Br₂ or without a solvent, n-pentane is converted predominantly into lower alkanes (mainly, isopentane). In addition, higher branched C₈--C₁₂ alkanes, small amounts of alkylated cyclohexanes, cycloalkenes, dienes, and alkylbenzenes are formed in a total yield of 20--23 % (w/w) based on pentane.