2,6-Diisopropylnaphthalene (2,6-DIPN), 1-methylnaphthalene (1-MN), and biphenyl (BP) were selected as model compounds to investigate the hydrogenation behavior of bicyclic aromatics. The experiments were conducted in a micro-autoclave in the presence of a dispersed catalyst at a temperature from 380 to 430 degrees C and pressure from 3 to 15 MPa. Through the analysis of the reaction products by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography (GC), the results revealed that hydrogenation of aromatics can be promoted significantly in the presence of a dispersed catalyst. A high selectivity toward monocyclic aromatic products was observed in hydrogenation of these model compounds, and its behavior was affected by the presence of substituents and a pi-conjugated bridge on an aromatic ring. The yield of hydro-bicyclic aromatics increased with the temperature and hydrogen pressure, while sometimes, ring hydrogenation was influenced by thermodynamic properties of aromatics. Reaction pathways for hydrogenation of 2,6-DIPN, 1-MN, and BP in the presence of a dispersed catalyst were proposed.