Dsm N.v.

Ivo Spaargaren

Cornelis G Van De Moesdijk

Otto E Sielcken

Johannes G Van Hinsberg

The invention relates to a process for the preparation of cycloalkanone and optionally cycloalkanol by causing a mixture containing cycloalkylhydroperoxide to react with cycloalkene under the influence of a catalyst, characterised in that the reaction is carried out with a short measure of cycloalkene relative to the cycloalkylhydroperoxide, under such conditions that virtually all of the cycloalkene reacts to cycloalkene oxide and optionally cycloalkanol and/or cycloalkanone, after which the mixture, optionally after decomposition of cycloalkylhydroperoxide and distillation of cycloalkane, is subjected to a first separation, in which cycloalkene oxide--and optionally other components--is separated, after which the cycloalkene oxide in the separated mixture is isomerised to substantially cycloalkanone, after which the cycloalkanone obtained--and optionally cycloalkanol--is recovered.

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Geleen, Netherlands

Ivo Spaargaren