Abstract: A method of producing an aromatic compound comprises dehydrogenating a compound having a six-membered carbocyclic ring in the molecule, the ring having a degree of saturation greater than that of a benzene ring, the dehydrogenation being carried out in the presence of a catalyst system comprising elemental palladium together with sodium carbonate and sulphur. The compound to be dehydrogenated may be a substituted cyclohexane. When the substituted cyclohexane is an alkoxycyclohexanol, the aromatic compound produced is an alkoxy phenol. In particularly useful aspect of the invention the substituted cyclohexane is a 2-alkoxycyclohexanol, the aromatic compound produced being an ortho-alkoxy phenol.

Abstract: Alkanols, alkylamines or hydroxylamines are reacted with a cycloalkene oxide in the presence of Fuller's earth as a catalyst to prepare, respectively, 2-cycloalkanol ethers, 2-alkylamino-cycloalkanols, or 2-hydroxylamino-cycloalkanols.