Benzophenone, a material that is common in biomass and coal, resists pyrolysis up to 400 degrees C. However, when the compound is reduced with potassium metal in tetrahydrofuran (THF) followed by solvent removal, the C-H bonds, as well as the CO bond, are activated, and the solid K+C12H10CO center dot(-)center dot THF salt begins to gasify at less than 250 degrees C. The noncondensable (at liquid nitrogen temperature) gases consist of hydrogen and methane. Condensable pyrolysis products include the following: benzene, toluene, biphenyl, xylenes, diphenyl methane, and ethylbenzene. When the temperature is raised to 380 degrees C and held there for several hours, CO is also liberated. Isotopic labeling studies suggest that the CH4 comes from a carbene intermediate, and the CO does not originate from the carbonyl moiety of the ketyl.