Ube Industries, Inc.

Toshihiko Sumida

Katsumasa Harada

Keigo Nishihira

Shuji Tanaka

Ryoji Sugise

Satoru Fujitsu

Koichi Kashiwagi

Yoichi Imbe

Takashi Doi

Masayuki Nishio

Yasushi Shiomi

Shinichi Furusaki

Hiroyuki Fukushima

A catalyst composed of an organic phosphorus compound having a trivalent or pentavalent phosphorus atom and at least one carbon-phosphorus bonding or a combination of the organic phosphorus compound and a halogen atom-containing compound is effective for decarbonylation, that is, for releasing carbon monoxide from a compound containing a moiety of --CO--CO--O-- in its molecular structure.

Catalyst for decarbonylation reaction

A diaryl carbonate is prepared at a high yield and a high selectivity by heating a diaryl oxalate in the presence of an organic phosphorous compound to release carbon monoxide therefrom. A halogen atom-containing compound can be employed in combination with the organic phosphorous compound.

Process for preparation of diaryl carbonate

A diol compound, for example, hexanediol, is produced with a high efficiency by esterifying a carboxylic acid mixture, collected from a reaction product mixture of a liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane, with an esterifying agent and hydrogenate-decomposing the resultant esterification product mixture with hydrogen. The hydrogenate-decomposition is carried out by using a specific catalyst free from chromium and including a member selected from (A) copper and zinc-containing catalytic materials which are prepared by mixing an aqueous solution of water-soluble copper and zinc salts with an aqueous alkali metal or ammonium carbonate or alkali metal or ammonium hydrogen carbonate solution, reducing the resultant precipitate comprising a basic copper and zinc carbonate mixture with hydrogen and partially oxidizing the resultant reduction product with an oxygen-containing gas, and (B) copper and zinc-containing catalytic materials which are prepared by conducting the same mixing procedure as that for the catalytic material (A) except that the mixing is carried out at a temperature of 60.degree. to 95.degree. C. at a pH of 6.5 to 9.0, and by calcining the resultant precipitate at a temperature of 300.degree. C. to 450.degree. C.

Process for producing diol compounds

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Yamaguchi, Japan

Toshihiko Sumida