*2.1. Materials*

Zinc powder (used to synthesize Zn/SiO2), anhydrous benzene (99.8%), phenol (≥89%), HPLC grade cyclohexane (99.9%), acetone (HPLC grade), and analytical tetrahydrobenzene or cyclohexene (99%) were purchased from Sigma Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Synthesis grade n-decane (≥95%) and SiO2 (Pure silica) have been purchased from Aldrich andR&M chemicals, respectively.
