Production of 2-ethylheptanol for use e.g. in plasticiser production, involves cleavage of 2-ethylidene-6-hepten-5-olide with hydrogen in presence of a mixture of Group VIII metal compound and Group VI or VII metal carbonyl

摘要

A mixture of (a) Group VIII metal(s) or Group VIII metal compound(s) and (b) Group VI or VII metal carbonyl(s) is used as the catalyst in a method for the production of 2-ethylheptanol by cleavage of 2-ethylidene-6-hepten-5-olide followed by reduction of the resulting carboxylic acid(s) with hydrogen. A method for the production of 2-ethyl-heptanol by cleavage of 2-ethylidene-6-hepten-5-olide to 2-ethylidene-6-heptanoic acid and/or 2-ethylheptanoic acid and/or isomers thereof in presence of an organophosphine-modified Group VIII metal compound, followed by optional hydrogenation of the resulting carboxylic acid or isomer mixture and then by catalytic reduction of the possibly unsaturated acid(s) with hydrogen. The catalyst used is a mixture of (a) Group VIII metal(s) or Group VIII metal compound(s) and (b) Group VI or VII metal carbonyl(s).