Hydrogenolysis of carboxylic acid ester to alcohol(s) - using reduced mixt. of copper oxide and zinc oxide as catalyst

摘要

A carboxylic acid ester is subjected to hydrogenolysis by contacting a vapour phase mixt. of the ester and hydrogen with a catalyst comprising to reduced mixt. of Cu oxide and Zn oxide at 75-300 (180-240) deg.C under an absolute pressure of 0.1-100 kg/sq.cm (9.8-9813kPa), pref. 0.1-50, esp 5-25 kg/sq.cm (9.8-4906, esp. 491-2453 kPa). The ester is pref. of formula R(COOR')n (I) or (R''COO)pR''') (II) (n and p are each 1-5 and the R's are indep. and opt. unsatd. and opt. substd. (a) cyclic hydrocarbon gps. in which one or more C atoms can be replaced by hetero-atoms from N, O and P. Pref. the various R gps. contain 1-12C). The prcess is used for the prodn. of alcohols. The process gives a negligible amt. of by-prods. or heavy prods and takes place under moderate conditions. The required alcohols are formed in high yields. The catalyst is simple and can be prepd. with reproducible activity.