Abstract: This invention relates to process for producing biphenyl esters, the process comprising: (a) contacting a feed comprising toluene, xylene or mixtures thereof with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluene, wherein the hydroalkylation catalyst comprises: 1) binder present at 40 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), 2) a hydrogenation component present at 0.2 wt % or less (based upon weight of final catalyst composition), and 3) an acidic component comprising a molecular sieve having a twelve membered (or larger) ring pore opening, channel or pocket and a largest pore dimension of 6.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexylbenzene, and a catalyst poison component, comprising a step of removing at least a portion of the catalyst poison component to reduce poisoning of a hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating phenol to cyclohexanone.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.

Abstract: In a process for producing biphenyl compounds, a Cn aromatic hydrocarbon may be hydroalkylated to give C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds and byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons. The C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds are dehydrogenated to provide the biphenyl compounds. The Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons may also be dehydrogenated back to the corresponding Cn aromatic hydrocarbon, which may be recycled to provide additional feed. Although both the intermediate C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds and the byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should be dehydrogenated, at least part of the dehydrogenation of the Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place in the absence of C2n or greater hydrocarbons. Thus, dehydrogenation of the byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place at least in part separately from dehydrogenation of the C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds.

Abstract: In a process for producing a methyl-substituted biphenyl compound, at least one methyl-substituted cyclohexylbenzene compound of the formula: wherein each of m and n is independently an integer from 1 to 3, is contacted with a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising at least one methyl-substituted biphenyl compound. The dehydrogenation catalyst comprises an element or compound thereof from Group 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements deposited on a refractory support, such as alumina.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.

Abstract: In a process for producing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes and/or (dimethylcyclohexyl)xylenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is then dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds.

Abstract: A catalyst composition comprises (i) a support; (ii) a dehydrogenation component comprising at least one metal or compound thereof selected from Groups 6 to 10 of the Periodic Table of Elements; and (iii) tin or a tin compound, wherein the tin is present in an amount of 0.01 wt % to about 0.25 wt %, the wt % based upon the total weight of the catalyst composition.

Abstract: A composition is described comprising a mixture of (methylcyclohexyl)toluene isomers having the following formula: wherein the mixture comprises at least 50 wt % in total of the 3,3, 3,4 4,3 and 4,4-isomers of (methylcyclohexyl)toluene.

Abstract: In a process for producing methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising at least one aromatic hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of toluene, xylene and mixtures thereof is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes and/or (dimethylcyclohexyl)xylenes together with dialkylated C21+ compounds. At least part of the dialkylated C21+ compounds is then removed from the hydroalkylation reaction product to produce a dehydrogenation feed; and at least part of the dehydrogenation feed is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of methyl-substituted biphenyl compounds.

Abstract: A biphenyl diester useful as a plasticizer having the formula (I): wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 5 to 15 carbon atoms and R2 is a methyl group or a phenyl group.

Abstract: A process for making phenol and/or cyclohexanone comprises: (A) oxidizing a cyclohexylbenzene feed to obtain an oxidation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide and phenol; (B) separating at least a portion of the oxidation product to obtain a first fraction comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide and a second fraction comprising cyclohexylbenzene and phenol; (C) removing at least a portion of the phenol from at least a portion of the second fraction to obtain a third fraction; (D) recycling at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene in the third fraction to the oxidizing step (A); and (E) contacting at least a portion of the cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the first fraction with an acid catalyst in a cleavage reactor under cleavage conditions to obtain a cleavage product comprising phenol and cyclohexanone.

Abstract: In a process for producing a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, a feed comprising cyclohexanone is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions effective to convert part of the cyclohexanone in the feed into cyclohexanol and thereby produce a hydrogenation product containing cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. A mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol is then obtained from the hydrogenation product.

Abstract: In a process for producing 3,4? and/or 4,4? dimethyl-substituted biphenyl compounds, a feed comprising toluene is contacted with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a hydroalkylation reaction product comprising (methylcyclohexyl)toluenes. At least part of the hydroalkylation reaction product is dehydrogenated in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst under conditions effective to produce a dehydrogenation reaction product comprising a mixture of dimethyl-substituted biphenyl isomers. The dehydrogenation reaction product is then separated into at least a first stream containing at least 50% of 3,4? and 4,4? dimethylbiphenyl isomers by weight of the first stream and at least one second stream comprising one or more 2,x? (where x? is 2?, 3?, or 4?) and 3,3? dimethylbiphenyl isomers.

Abstract: In a process for producing biphenyl compounds, a Cn aromatic hydrocarbon may be hydroalkylated to give C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds and byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons. The C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds are dehydrogenated to provide the biphenyl compounds. The Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons may also be dehydrogenated back to the corresponding Cn aromatic hydrocarbon, which may be recycled to provide additional feed. Although both the intermediate C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds and the byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should be dehydrogenated, at least part of the dehydrogenation of the Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place in the absence of C2n or greater hydrocarbons. Thus, dehydrogenation of the byproduct Cn saturated cyclic hydrocarbons should take place at least in part separately from dehydrogenation of the C2n cycloalkylaromatic compounds.

Abstract: A process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone is described in which cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with an oxygen-containing gas under conditions effective to produce an oxidation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and at least part of cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide is contacted with a cleavage catalyst under conditions effective to produce a cleavage effluent containing phenol and cyclohexanone. At least one of the oxidation effluent and the cleavage effluent contains at least one phenylcyclohexanol as a by-product and the process further comprises contacting the phenylcyclohexanol with a dehydration catalyst comprising a molecular sieve of the MCM-22 family under conditions effective to convert at least part of the phenylcyclohexanol to phenylcyclohexene.

Abstract: A process for making phenol and/or cyclohexanone comprises: (A) oxidizing a cyclohexylbenzene feed to obtain an oxidation product comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide and phenol; (B) separating at least a portion of the oxidation product to obtain a first fraction comprising cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide and a second fraction comprising cyclohexylbenzene and phenol; (C) removing at least a portion of the phenol from at least a portion of the second fraction to obtain a third fraction; (D) recycling at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene in the third fraction to the oxidizing step (A); and (E) contacting at least a portion of the cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-1-hydroperoxide in the first fraction with an acid catalyst in a cleavage reactor under cleavage conditions to obtain a cleavage product comprising phenol and cyclohexanone.

Abstract: Provided are compounds of the following: wherein R1 is a saturated or unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon optionally substituted with an alkyl and/or an OXO-ester, and R2 is a C4 to C14 hydrocarbyl, preferably the residue of a C4 to C14 OXO-alcohol. Also provided are processes for making the compounds and plasticized polymer compositions containing said compounds.

Abstract: In a process for producing phenol, cyclohexylbenzene is contacted with an oxygen-containing compound in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising a cyclic imide under oxidation conditions effective to produce a product comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and unreacted cyclic imide catalyst. Without removing all the unreacted cyclic imide catalyst, at least a portion of the product is contacted with an acidic molecular sieve under conditions effective to adsorb at least a portion of the unreacted cyclic imide and to convert at least part of the cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide in the product portion into phenol and cyclohexanone.