A novel Route to Synthesize p-Terphenyl from Benzene by the Catalysis of h-BN Nanoparticles

We have investigated the catalytic effect of boron nitride (h-BN) nanoparticles. The experiments prove that p-terphenyl can be synthesized from benzene at 400 °C in the presence of h-BN nanoparticles, thereby implying that the observed catalytic property of the h-BN nanoparticles may expand the application field of inorganic nanocrystals. The paper also discusses the mechanism of the structural rearrangement and oligomerization from benzene to p-terphenyl.