Abstract: In a producing method of alcohols such as cyclohexanedimethanol, a benzyl ester is obtained, for example, by the reaction between a benzyl compound and carboxylic acid in the presence of oxygen and a catalyst including palladium, gold ultra fine particles, and at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Group IIA, IIIA, VIA, IIB, VB, and VIII of the periodic table, and alkali metal. The alcohols are produced by hydrogenating a benzene ring of the benzyl ester and then hydrolyzing the resultant esters. Alternatively, the benzyl ester is hydrolyzed to produce benzyl alcohols, and a benzene ring of the benzyl alcohols is hydrogenated to produce the alcohols.

Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide a novel catalyst by use of which methylbenzenes can be oxidized in gaseous phase in the presence of molecular oxygen to give the corresponding aromatic aldehydes in high yields, a process for producing an aromatic aldehyde from the corresponding methylbenzene in a high yield by use of said catalyst, and a process for producing cyclohexanedimethanol which comprises hydrogenating phthalaldehyde among the aromatic aldehydes which can be obtained as above.

Abstract: A preparation of metallic salt of ethercarboxylic acid in a pure form by restraining the formation of fumaric acid likely to occur when maleic acid and/or maleic anhydride react with oxycarboxylic acid. The ethercarboxylic product is a useful chelating agent.