PROCESS FOR PREPARING 1,6 HEXANE DIOL AND CAPROLACTON

摘要

PCT No. PCT/EP97/00990 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 28, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 28, 1998 PCT Filed Feb. 28, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/31883 PCT Pub. Date Sep. 4, 19971,6-hexanediol and epsilon -caprolactone are prepared from a carboxylic acid mixture comprising adipic acid, 6-hydroxycaproic acid and small amounts of 1,4-cyclohexanediols which is obtained as a by-product in the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol using oxygen or oxygen-containing gases by water extraction of the reaction mixture, by esterifying and hydrogenating a substream to give hexanediol and cyclizing 6-hydroxycaproic esters to give caprolactone.