A process is disclosed for generating pure aromatic compounds from a reformed gasoline which contains aromatic compounds, olefins, diolefin, and triolefins, which comprises the steps of: (a) selectively hydrogenating the olefins, diolefins and triolefins in the reformed gasoline to obtain a mixture of hydrogenated, non-aromatic compounds and aromatic compounds; and (b) separating the aromatic compounds from the hydrogenated, non-aromatic compounds in the mixture formed during step (a) by either extractive distillation, liquid-liquid extraction or both to obtain the pure aromatic compounds.