Isomerization of endo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene to a missile fuel diluent

摘要

Endo-tetrahydrodicyclopentadiene is isomerized to its exo-isomer in the presence of aluminum trichloride at a temperature in the range between from about - DEG C to about 90 DEG C. The mole ratio of AlCl3 to the tetrahydrodiene is in the range between from about 0.001 to about 0.75. An inert solvent may also be used. The very facile isomerization is essentially quantitative. The exoisomer has utility as a relatively high BTU/gallon, viscosity-lowering difluent for a missile fuel.