A process for selectively producing monoethylene glycol monomethyl ether with the simultaneous coproduction of monoethylene glycol and ethanol.

摘要

This invention relates to a process for selectively cleaving a polyalkylene glycol, e.g., diethylene glycol, containing at least one ether group therein at a carbon-to-oxygen covalent bond and independently at a carbon-to-carbon covalent bond by heating the polyalkylene glycol with molecular hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst containing nickel to produce at least one of monoethylene glycol monomethyl ether, monoethylene glycol and ethanol. Monoethylene glycol monomethyl ether can be produced in predominant amounts by employing the process of this invention.