Abstract: A process for the separation of close boiling compounds comprising distilling a hydrocarbon mixture of said compounds in the presence of a high boiling diluent liquid and a solid adsorbent. The high boiling diluent is withdrawn from the bottom of the distillation column and recycled to the column. The process is particularly suitable for the separation of straight-chain isomers from isomerate mixtures, the separation of benzene from hydrocarbon mixtures and the separation of paraffins from olefins.