Abstract: Provided is a method capable of producing an olefin with high selectivity and high yield using a vicinal diol as a raw material. A method for producing an olefin includes a step of reacting a compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with hydrogen and forming an olefin, and in this step, the reaction of the compound including two adjacent carbon atoms each containing a hydroxy group with the hydrogen proceeds in the presence of a catalyst under a condition substantially free of a solvent. The catalyst includes a carrier, at least one oxide supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of oxides of group-6 elements and oxides of group-7 elements, and at least one metal supported on the carrier and selected from the group consisting of silver, iridium, and gold.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing, from a carboxylic acid ester, a corresponding ether. In the method, the reaction product and catalyst can be easily separated, and a large amount of salt waste or hazardous waste is not discharged. The method for producing an ether includes reducing a carboxylic acid ester with molecular hydrogen in the presence of the following Catalyst and producing the corresponding ether, in which the —C(?O)O— group of the carboxylic acid ester has been converted to a —CH2O— group: Catalyst: a catalyst in which the following M1 and M2 are supported as metal species on the following Support. M1: platinum, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, or iridium. M2: molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten, or vanadium. Support: zirconium oxide, titanium oxide, cerium oxide, or hydroxyapatite.

Abstract: A high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol product is provided, which is colorless and odorless (or almost colorless and odorless), unlikely to cause coloration and odor over time, and, besides, unlikely to cause an acid concentration increase over time also in a state containing water. A 1,3-butylene glycol product in which at least one of a content of methyl vinyl ketone, a content of acetone, a content of butylaldehyde, a content of acetaldol, a content of a compound represented by Formula (1) below, a content of a compound represented by Formula (2) below, a content of a compound represented by Formula (3) below, and a total content of a compound represented by Formula (4) below and a compound represented by Formula (5) below, is less than 8 ppm.

Abstract: A high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol product that is colorless and odorless (or almost colorless and odorless), unlikely to cause coloration and odor over time, and/or unlikely to cause an acid concentration increase over time when the product is left in a state containing water is provided. A 1,3-butylene glycol product containing 1,3-butylene glycol, wherein, after the 1,3-butylene glycol product has been kept at 180° C. for 3 hours in air atmosphere, at least one of contents of compounds represented by the following Formula (A) or (B) is less than 8 ppm. In the following formula, R1 to R4 are the same as or different from each other, and each of R1 to R4 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which has from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and may be substituted with a hydroxy group, or an alkenyl group which has from 2 to 4 carbon atoms and may be substituted with a hydroxy group.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating hydrogen at a desired rate, using a hydrogen storage material that can be stored and transported safely and inexpensively. The method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen includes subjecting a hydrosilane compound and water to a reaction with each other in the presence of a solid catalyst to give a silanol compound and hydrogen. The solid catalyst includes hydroxyapatite and gold particles supported on the hydroxyapatite, where the gold particles have an average particle size of 2.5 nm or less. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen is preferably performed in an air atmosphere. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen can be performed with application of substantially no heat and no activated energy rays.

Abstract: Provided is a high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol product that is odorless and is unlikely to cause acid concentration increase over time in a state containing water. A 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak area ratio of 100 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 1.35 to 1.45, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0.

Abstract: Provided is a high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol product that is colorless and odorless, and furthermore, unlikely to be colored over time. A 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak area ratio of 1000 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 2.3 to 2.4, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0.

Abstract: Provided is a high-purity 1,3-butylene glycol product that is colorless and odorless, unlikely to be colored over time, and furthermore, unlikely to cause acid concentration increase over time in a state containing water. A 1,3-butylene glycol product, having, according to a gas chromatographic analysis performed under predetermined conditions, a peak ratio of 2000 ppm or lower appearing in a relative retention time ranging from 1.6 to 1.8, provided that the relative retention time for a peak of 1,3-butylene glycol is 1.0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for selectively producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester, the method including reducing a dicarboxylic acid monoester by means of a heterogeneous reaction. According to a method for producing a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester in an embodiment of the present invention, a hydroxycarboxylic acid ester represented by Formula (2) is produced by reducing a substrate dicarboxylic acid monoester represented by Formula (1) in the presence of a catalyst. The catalyst comprises: metal species including M1 and M2; and a support supporting the metal species, and wherein M1 is rhodium, platinum, ruthenium, iridium or palladium; M2 is tin, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten or rhenium; and the support is hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, or hydrotalcite.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively producing an alcohol by efficiently hydrogenating a lactone. The present invention is a method for producing an alcohol, the method including hydrogenating a substrate lactone represented by Formula (1), in the presence of a catalyst described below, to produce an alcohol that is represented by Formula (2). In the formulae, R represents a divalent hydrocarbon group which may have a hydroxyl group. The catalyst comprises: metal species including M1 and M2; and a support supporting the metal species, and wherein M1 is rhodium, platinum, ruthenium, iridium, or palladium; M2 is tin, vanadium, molybdenum, tungsten, or rhenium; and the support is hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, hydrotalcite, or ZrO2.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for reduction reaction with which 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran can be obtained with higher selectivity than with the related art, using a raw material derived from biomass. The catalyst is used in a reduction reaction of 3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen, wherein the catalyst contains metal catalysts (1) and (2) below; metal catalyst (1): a catalyst containing M1 and M2 below as metal species and supported on a carrier; and metal catalyst (2): a catalyst containing M1 below as a metal species and supported on a carrier; M1: one or more selected from the group consisting of iron and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 5 to 7 of the periodic table; and M2: one or more selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 9 to 11 of the periodic table.

Abstract: A hydrogenation reaction catalyst used for a reaction of 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran includes a carrier, at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier, and a metal other than a Group 6 element and a Group 7 element, the other metal being supported on the carrier. The amount of the oxide supported on the carrier in terms of a metal atom forming the oxide is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the oxide and the carrier being 100% by weight. The molar ratio in terms of metal of the other metal to the Group 6 element and Group 7 element forming the oxide [other metal/Group 6 element and Group 7 element] is 50/1 to 1/4.

Abstract: Provided is a catalyst for reduction reaction with which 1,4-butanediol or tetrahydrofuran can be obtained with higher selectivity than with the related art, using a raw material derived from biomass. The catalyst is used in a reduction reaction of 3,4-dihydroxytetrahydrofuran with hydrogen, wherein the catalyst contains metal catalysts (1) and (2) below; metal catalyst (1): a catalyst containing M1 and M2 below as metal species and supported on a carrier; and metal catalyst (2): a catalyst containing M1 below as a metal species and supported on a carrier; M1: one or more selected from the group consisting of iron and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 5 to 7 of the periodic table; and M2: one or more selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, osmium, and elements belonging to periods 4 to 6 and groups 9 to 11 of the periodic table.

Abstract: Provided is a method for generating hydrogen at a desired rate, using a hydrogen storage material that can be stored and transported safely and inexpensively. The method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen includes subjecting a hydrosilane compound and water to a reaction with each other in the presence of a solid catalyst to give a silanol compound and hydrogen. The solid catalyst includes hydroxyapatite and gold particles supported on the hydroxyapatite, where the gold particles have an average particle size of 2.5 nm or less. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen is preferably performed in an air atmosphere. The reaction in the method according to the present invention for producing a silanol compound and hydrogen can be performed with application of substantially no heat and no activated energy rays.

Abstract: A hydrogenation reaction catalyst used for a reaction of 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran includes a carrier, at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier, and a metal other than a Group 6 element and a Group 7 element, the other metal being supported on the carrier. The amount of the oxide supported on the carrier in terms of a metal atom forming the oxide is 0.01 to 10% by weight based on the total amount of the oxide and the carrier being 100% by weight. The molar ratio in terms of metal of the other metal to the Group 6 element and Group 7 element forming the oxide [other metal/Group 6 element and Group 7 element] is 50/1 to 1/4.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran that can be used as a raw material for 1,3-butane diol, using as a raw material a compound that can be derived from biomass. The present invention relates to a method for producing 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran including a step of reacting 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen to produce 3-hydroxytetrahydrofuran. In the production method, the step of reacting 1,4-anhydroerythritol and hydrogen is preferably allowed to proceed in the presence of a catalyst comprising a carrier and at least one oxide selected from the group consisting of an oxide of a Group 6 element and an oxide of a Group 7 element, the oxide being supported on the carrier.

Abstract: A cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride, a polycarboxylic acid, or a mixture of them is allowed to react with hydroxylamine or a salt thereof in an organic solvent under dewatering conditions to yield a corresponding cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound. The cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride can be, for example, succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride. The polycarboxylic acid can be, for example, succinic acid, glutaric acid, or adipic acid. In this process, the reaction is preferably carried out using an organic solvent capable of undergoing azeotropy with water as all or part of a reaction solvent while removing water from the reaction system by azeotropy with the organic solvent. This process produces a cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound in a good yield from any of a cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride and a polycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A method oxidizes an organic compound with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, in which the catalyst contains a N-hydroxy- or N-(substituted oxy)-imide compound derivable from at least one selected from a target product, a reaction intermediate, and a reaction byproduct, and the catalyst is produced from at least one component selected from the target product, reaction intermediate, and reaction byproduct each formed as a result of the reaction and is used in the oxidation reaction so as to make up for a loss of the catalyst due to denaturation in the reaction. The method can easily and inexpensively make up for a loss of the catalyst denaturated in the course of reaction.

Abstract: A cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride, a polycarboxylic acid, or a mixture of them is allowed to react with hydroxylamine or a salt thereof in an organic solvent under dewatering conditions to yield a corresponding cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound. The cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride can be, for example, succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride. The polycarboxylic acid can be, for example, succinic acid, glutaric acid, or adipic acid. In this process, the reaction is preferably carried out using an organic solvent capable of undergoing azeotropy with water as all or part of a reaction solvent while removing water from the reaction system by azeotropy with the organic solvent. This process produces a cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound in a good yield from any of a cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride and a polycarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride, a polycarboxylic acid, or a mixture of them is allowed to react with hydroxylamine or a salt thereof in an organic solvent under dewatering conditions to yield a corresponding cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound. The cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride can be, for example, succinic anhydride or glutaric anhydride. The polycarboxylic acid can be, for example, succinic acid, glutaric acid, or adipic acid. In this process, the reaction is preferably carried out using an organic solvent capable of undergoing azeotropy with water as all or part of a reaction solvent while removing water from the reaction system by azeotropy with the organic solvent. This process produces a cyclic N-hydroxyimide compound in a good yield from any of a cyclic polycarboxylic acid anhydride and a polycarboxylic acid.