The invention relates to a hydrocracking process involving the steps of reacting a diphenyl alkane having a formulation of R1R2C(Ph)-(C)n(H)m-C(Ph)R3R4 with hydrogen using a catalyst containing a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IB and Group VIII metal compounds, preferably on an acidic support, to produce alkylbenzene(s) having a structure of R1R2C(Ph)R5 and R6(Ph)CR3R4; wherein the total number of carbon atoms for R5 and R6 is equal to n; wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 each is a H or a hydrocarbon group having 1-10 carbon atoms.