Hydrogenation of phenolic compounds, e.g. p-tert.- butylphenol

摘要

A process for the hydrogenation of aromatic compounds with at least one aromatic hydroxyl group (I), is effected by the reaction with free hydrogen in presence of a catalyst containing 0.01-30 (preferably 0.2-15) wt% ruthenium and optionally Sub-Group I, VII and/or VIII metal(s) on a support with an average pore diameter of at least 0.1 (preferably at least 0.5) micron and a surface area of not more than 15 (preferably not more than 10) m<2>/g. Also claimed is a hydrogenation catalyst as above.