Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.

Yuuichi Satoh

Jun Tatsumi

Toshiya Iida

Noboru Saito

Toshio Hayashi

Kimio Ariyoshi

Yusei Nagamura

Kunihiro Yamamura

In a producing method of alcohols such as cyclohexanedimethanol, a benzyl ester is obtained, for example, by the reaction between a benzyl compound and carboxylic acid in the presence of oxygen and a catalyst including palladium, gold ultra fine particles, and at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of Group IIA, IIIA, VIA, IIB, VB, and VIII of the periodic table, and alkali metal. The alcohols are produced by hydrogenating a benzene ring of the benzyl ester and then hydrolyzing the resultant esters. Alternatively, the benzyl ester is hydrolyzed to produce benzyl alcohols, and a benzene ring of the benzyl alcohols is hydrogenated to produce the alcohols.

Producing method of alcohols such as cyclohexanedimethanol

Producing method of (hydroxyalkyl) alicyclic carboxylic acids and intermediates for producing the same and producing method of such intermediates

An oxidation catalyst according to the present invention is prepared, for example, by heat processing a gold compound at 150&deg; C. to 80&deg; C., yielding ultrafine gold particles, which are then mixed with a palladium compound and a compound containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of alkaline metals and the elements of Groups IIA, IIIA, VIA, IIB, VB, and VIII of the Periodic Table. By an oxidation reaction between a benzyl compound such as p-xylene and a carboxylic acid such as acetic acid in the presence of oxygen and the oxidation catalyst prepared as above, a benzyl ester such as p-methylbenzyl acetate or p-xylylene diacetate can be produced. Consequently, it is possible to provide an oxidation catalyst suitable for use in industrially producing the foregoing benzyl esters, a method of preparing the foregoing oxidation catalyst, and a method of producing the foregoing benzyl esters efficiently and at low cost.

Oxidation catalyst

The present invention provides a process for producing an alkyl ether of a phenol from a phenol and an alcohol at a selectivity and a yield higher than in conventional processes, stably over a long period of time. The process is characterized by alkyl-etherifying a phenol with an alcohol in the presence of an oxide catalyst comprising an alkali metal as a constituent element.

Process for production of alkyl ether of phenol and catalyst used therein

Growing community of inventors

Suita, Japan

Yuuichi Satoh