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The authors previously examined the impact of restricted mass transport on thermally induced, free-radical reaction pathways through the study of diarylalkanes covalently linked to an inert silica surface. They have now dispersed surface-attached 1,3-diphenylpropane ((approx) DPP) with a low acidity SiO(sub 2)-1% Al(sub 2)O(sub 3) (surface area of 170 m(sup 2)/g) by solvent removal from a colloidal suspension of the components. Thermolysis studies at 310-375 C under vacuum reveal a surprisingly efficient and selective acid-catalyzed cracking reaction for (approx) DPP in the solid state. Even at 375 C, acid-catalyzed aromatic dealkylation of (approx) DPP dominates over the normal free-radical decomposition path. The results indicate that significant solid-state interactions between catalyst and substrate can occur, which has significant implications for the use of dispersed catalysts in coal liquefaction and hydropyrolysis. 13 refs., 1 fig., 1 tab.