Anderson's modified version of the extended Huckel molecular orbital method [Anderson, A. B. J. Chem. Phys. 1974, 60, 2477] has been used to study the bond cleavage in molecular fragments of interest in coal liquefaction. Results obtained are in qualitative agreement with experiments. The calculations are used to elucidate the action of a novel catalyst in the thermolysis of a model compound of recent interest.