Tetralin is produced by the catalytic hydrogenation of naphthalene.[2]
Although nickel catalysts are traditionally employed, many variations have been evaluated.[3] Over-hydrogenation converts tetralin into decahydronaphthalene (decalin). Rarely encountered is dihydronaphthalene (dialin).
Tetralin is used as a hydrogen-donor solvent, for example in coal liquifaction. It functions as a source of H2, which is transferred to the coal. The partially hydrogenated coal is more soluble.[5][2]
It has been used in sodium-cooled fast reactors as a secondary coolant to keep sodium seals around pump impellers solidified; however its use has been superseded by NaK.[6]: 24:30
It is also used for the laboratory synthesis of hydrogen bromide:
C10H12 + 4 Br2 → C10H8Br4 + 4 HBr
The facility of this reaction is in part a consequence of the moderated strength of the benzylic C-H bonds.
^Krichko, A. A.; Skvortsov, D. V.; Titova, T. A.; Filippov, B. S.; Dogadkina, N. E. (1969). "Production of tetralin by the hydrogenation of naphthalene-containing fractions". Chemistry and Technology of Fuels and Oils. 5: 18–22. doi:10.1007/BF00727949. S2CID95026822.
^Michael B. Smith (2011). Organic Synthesis (third ed.). Academic Press. pp. 1209–1210. ISBN9780124158849.
^Isa, Khairuddin Md.; Abdullah, Tuan Amran Tuan; Md. Ali, Umi Fazara (2018). "Hydrogen donor solvents in liquefaction of biomass: A review". Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 81(Part_1): 1259–1268. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2017.04.006.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^US Atomic Energy Commission (1961) SRE Core Recovery Remediation method after a failure in the moderator cans due to a crack in the secondary coolant tubes in the SRE, Spring 1959. This caused a leak of Tetralin into the reactor.