Ring-opening reactions of decalin and methylcyclohexane (MCH) over bifunctional catalysts (1.2Ir/WO3/Al2O3) were investigated. A series of catalysts containing up to 5.3 at. W/nm(2) and 1.2 wt.% Ir was prepared. The acidity of the solids was monitored by low-temperature CO adsorption followed by infrared spectroscopy. Characterization of the Ir metal phase was performed by H-2 chemisorption and X-ray diffraction. The activity and product selectivity patterns obtained for the decalin ring-opening reaction were compared with those observed for MCH. For both naphthenes, ring contraction precedes ring opening, suggesting a similar ring-opening mechanism. Kinetic modeling based on the proposed reaction network allowed the determination of the activation energies and initial rates. Based on the yields and products distribution obtained for the decalin reaction, the potential for improvement of the cetane number is discussed. (c) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.