Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the preparation of 2-butene-1,4-diol comprising contacting a mixture of water and 1,2-epoxy-3-butene with a catalyst comprising a metal halide, zeolite and a non-protic solvent.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the isomerization of a vinyl glycol to an unsaturated diol in the presence of a rhenium-based catalyst; and to a catalyst for said isomerization. More specifically, this invention relates to the isomerization of 3-butene-1,2-diol to 2-butene-1,4-diol; and to a process for the manufacture of 1,4-butanediol involving the step of isomerizing 3-butene-1,2-diol to 2-butene-1,4-diol in the presence of said catalyst. The catalyst is characterized in that it comprises a transition metal on a carrier wherein the carrier is a zeolite Y type substance containing silicon and aluminum in a mole ratio of from about 1.5:1 to about 1000:1, and the transition metal is rhenium or a rhenium compound and mixtures thereof present in an amount of from about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent based on total combined weight of the carrier and of the rhenium or rhenium compound and mixtures thereof.