Abstract: A process is described for the production of a hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols by hydrogenation of a corresponding hydrogenatable material selected from monoesters of carboxylic acids, monoesters of dicarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof which comprises:(a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular heterogeneous ester hydrogenation catalyst;(b) supplying to the hydrogenation zone a vaporous feed stream containing hydrogen and a hydrogenatable material selected from monoesters of carboxylic acids, monoesters of dicarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, lactones, and mixtures of two or more thereof, at an inlet temperature which is above the dew point of the mixture;(c) maintaining the hydrogenation zone under temperature and pressure conditions which are conducive to effecting hydrogenation of esters;(d) recovering from the hydrogenation zone a two phase product stream containing a hydroxylic compou

Abstract: A hydrogenation process is described for the production of a hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols by hydrogenation of a corresponding unsaturated organic compound selected from esters, diesters and lactones which involves use of two hydrogenation zones (11, 36), each containing a charge of a hydrogenation catalyst (12, 37). In a first phase of operation one of the hydrogenation zones (36 or 11) is in standby condition and a stream of hot hydrogen-containing gas is passed therethrough. Meanwhile a vaporous feed stream comprising a hydrogen-containing gas and the unsaturated organic compound to be hydrogenated, e.g. dimethyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate, is fed to the active zone (11 or 36). This feed stream can include the gas stream from the first mentioned hydrogenation zone (36 or 11).

Abstract: A process is described for the production of cyclohexanedimethanol having a trans-:cis-isomer ratio greater than about 1:1 by hydrogenation of a dialkyl (e.g. dimethyl) cyclohexanedicarboxylate having a trans-:cis-isomer ratio less than about 1:1 which comprises:(a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular heterogeneous ester hydrogenation catalyst;(b) supplying to the hydrogenation zone a vaporous feed stream containing hydrogen and a hydrogenarable material comprising a dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate at an inlet temperature which is above its dew point of the mixture;(c) maintaining the hydrogenation zone under temperature and pressure conditions which are conducive to effecting hydrogenation of esters;(d) passing the vaporous feed stream through the hydrogenation zone; and(e) recovering from the hydrogenation zone a product stream containing cyclohexanedimethanol having a trans-:cis-isomer ratio greater than 1:1.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of a hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols by hydrogenation of a hydrogenatable material selected from monoesters of carboxylic acids, monoesters of dicarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, aldehydes, olefinically unsaturated aldehydes, and mixtures of two or more thereof, which process comprises the steps of:(a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular hydrogenation catalyst which has a total surface area of at least about 15 m.sup.

Abstract: A continuous process is described for the production of 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) having a desired or predetermined trans-:cis- isomer ratio by catalytic hydrogenation of a dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate in the presence of an ester hydrogenation catalyst. The process is capable of being operated for an extended period of time during which the hydrogenation catalyst declines in catalytic activity and comprises feeding a vaporous mixture of the dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate and hydrogen to a hydrogenation zone containing the hydrogenation catalyst and recovering CHDM product. The degree of conversion of the dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate at a particular combination of temperature and pressure is related to the trans-:cis- isomer ratio of the CHDM product and may be varied by adjusting at least one feed condition selected from (i) the dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate feed rate and (ii) the hydrogen-containing gas:dialkyl 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylate molar ratio.

Abstract: A process is described for reactivating an at least partially deactivated copper-containing ester hydrogenation catalyst which has undergone deactivation through use in hydrogenation of an unsaturated organic compound selected from esters of C.sub.8 to C.sub.22 monocarboxylic acids, diesters of dicarboxylic acids, and lactones, to yield a corresponding hydroxylic compound selected from alcohols and diols which comprises contacting the at least partially deactivated copper-containing catalyst at an effective reactivation temperature and for an effective period of time with a stream of hydrogen-containing gas which is substantially free from the unsaturated organic compound thereby to reactivate the at least partially deactivated copper-containing catalyst.

Abstract: A process is described for the production of cyclohexanedimethanol by hydrogenation of a dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate which comprises:(a) providing a hydrogenation zone containing a charge of a granular heterogeneous ester hydrogenation catalyst;(b) forming a vaporous feed stream of a hydrogen-containing gas,and a hydrogenatable material comprising a dialkyl cyclohexanedicarboxylate at a feed temperature which is in the range of from about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. and which is above the dew point of the feed stream and at a feed pressure in the range of from about 150 psia (about 10.34 bar) to about 2000 psia (about 137.

Abstract: Disclosed are catalyst compositions comprised of the oxides of copper, zinc, and a third element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, and mixtures thereof, and the use of such catalyst compositions in the hydrogenation of carbonyl compounds such as carboxylate esters to obtain the alcohol corresponding to the acid residue of the ester.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of d,l-menthol by catalytic hydrogenation of aromatic or partly hydrogenated cyclic compounds which have the carbon skeleton of menthol having at least one double bond and are substituted by oxygen in the 3-position relative to the methyl group, with simultaneous rearrangement of optically active or inactive stereoisomers of menthol at elevated temperature and under pressure is described. The hydrogenation, which is to be carried out continuously, is carried out on a fixed bed catalyst which comprises, as active constituents, palladium, ruthenium or rhodium or a mixture of these elements, and comprises alkali metal hydroxides and/or alkali metal sulphates as promoters; the support for this catalyst is doped with a rare earth metal and manganese.

Abstract: A method of producing aliphatic and cycloaliphatic diols by catalytic hydrogenation of dicarboxylic acid esters by the use of a copper chromite catalyst in which the copper content (calculated as CuO) is 40-47 wt. %, and the chromium content (calculated as Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3) is 40-47 wt. %, and barium is also present in the amount of up to 10 wt. % (calculated as BaO) under mild temperature and pressure conditions is disclosed. The method produces diols without the formation of high boiling materials and does not require purification of the product diols by overhead distillation.

Abstract: In a process for production of cyclohexanol comprising the selective catalytic hydrogenation of phenol to a product mixture comprising a major portion of cyclohexanol and a substantially smaller portion of cyclohexanone, then distillation of said product mixture to obtain cyclohexanol containing a minor amount of cyclohexanone meeting desired specification levels; the improvement comprising adding to said product mixture an effective amount of a polyamine such as hexamethylene diamine and distilling the product mixture to obtain an improved yield of said cyclohexanol containing a minor amount of cyclohexanone.

Abstract: A process for reducing an aldehyde or ketone in the presence of a stable, highly active catalyst which is insoluble in a solvent and which can be recovered easily from the reaction system after completion of the reaction and used repeatedly, characterized in that an aldehyde or ketone having a carbonyl group is reacted with an alcohol in the presence of hydrous zirconium oxide as the catalyst.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of a compound of formula (2) ##STR1## (wherein R is a C.sub.1-6 alkyl or a C.sub.7-20 aralkyl group) and the salts thereof, which comprises reducing a compound of formula (3) ##STR2## (or a salt thereof), using a reducing system comprising borohydride ions and metal ions selected from lanthanide ions, alkaline earth metal ions or yttrium ions in solution. The reduction system may be provided by a borohydride (e.g. NaBH.sub.4) and a metal salt (e.g. CeCl.sub.3).The ester (2) may then if desired be hydrolyzed to give the parent acid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of .alpha.-.beta. unsaturated alcohols of the formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be equal or different, represent phenyl, optionally substituted with one or more alkyl and/or alkoxy groups, the total number of C atoms of these substituents being at most 5, or hydrogen or an alkyl group with 1-10 C atoms, with at least one of the groups R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 representing the optionally substituted phenyl group, by hydrogenation in the liquid phase of the aldehyde corresponding with the desired alcohol, this being effected in the presence of a platinum-containing catalyst and of an alkali metal hydroxide and/or an alkali metal alkoxide as promotor, wherein platinum-on-graphite is used as catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing 4,4'-biphenol comprising subjecting 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexanol to decomposition and dehydrogenation in the presence of a dehydrogenation catalyst.4,4-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexanol is a novel compound which can be prepared by reacting 4-hydroxycyclohexanone with phenol.

Abstract: A method of producing cyclohexyl compounds by catalytic hydrogenation of benzyl compounds, particularly acetophenone, whereby the benzyl compounds are hydrogenated in the presence of a catalyst comprising Ru and a support, with said benzyl compounds being in a slurry or a trickling liquid phase, at a hydrogen pressure of 200-350 bar, particularly 250-320 bar, and a temperatures of from 80.degree. to about 160.degree. C., particularly 100.degree.-130.degree. C., wherewith the catalyst contains Ru in the amount of, in particular, 0.1-1 wt. %.

Abstract: Fragrant cyclohexanol derivatives are produced by condensing 2-ethylidene-5-norbornene with a phenol compound, in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst; and hydrogenating the condensation product in the presence of a metal catalyst.The compounds so produced have a green-floral odor and are advantageously used in soaps, detergents, shampoos, hair rinse, cosmetics, colognes and perfumes.

Abstract: 2- and 4-tert-butylcyclohexanols are produced having high proportions of cis-isomers, by hydrogenating the corresponding tert-butylphenols in the presence of Pd and Ru catalysts in two stages under hydrogen pressures of above 200 bar and at temperatures of 70.degree.-280.degree. C. In the first stage, a Pd catalyst is employed, and a Ru catalyst is used in the second stage.

Abstract: The hydrogenation of phenolic molecules can be more effectively carried out using pretreated Group VIII catalysts.

Abstract: An improved synthetic process for the removal of an allyl group in an allylic ester or an allyloxycarbonyl group in an allylic carbonate or carbamate by reaction with 2-ethylhexanoic acid or an alkali metal salt thereof and a catalytic amount of an organic-soluble palladium complex is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A modified nickel catalyst used for stereo-differentiating reduction of carbonyl compounds is provided. The modified nickel catalyst is prepared by soaking a nickel catalyst in an aqueous modifying medium having dissolved therein at least one inorganic salt, such as sodium bromide or sodium chloride, and at least one optically active substance, such as optically active hydroxy acid. The modified nickel catalyst exhibits enhanced activity for stereo-differentiating reduction and causes little or no side reactions, and thus, brings about an extremely high yield of the reaction product.