Improvements relating to hydrogenolysis of phenyl alcohols

摘要

A method for the hydrogenolysis of a phenyl alcohol to eliminate a hydroxyl group therefrom, the method comprising contacting a feed comprising the phenyl alcohol and a hydrogenating agent with a heterogeneous catalyst comprising copper and zirconium at a reaction temperature of less than 135 °C and wherein the amount of copper (calculated as CuO) is in the range of from 10 to 80 % by weight of the catalyst and the amount of zirconium (calculated as ZrO 2 ) is in the range of from 20 to 90 % by weight of the catalyst. A process for the preparation of an alkylene oxide is also disclosed.