Hexane or higher akanes when heated in presence of vanadium pentoxide (V2O5), molybdenium oxide (MO2O3) or chromium oxide (Cr2O3) supported on alumina (Al2O3) at 800 K and 10-20 atm pressure give benzene or its alkyl derivatives with the liberation of hydrogen. This dehydrogenation process which involves cyclisation of alkanes is known as aromatization.
