Production of lactones and omega-hydroxycarboxylic acids

摘要

This invention provides process embodiments for shape-selective oxidation of cyclic ketones to lactone and/or omega-hydroxycarboxylic acid products in the presence of a zeolite catalyst composition such as ZSM-5 or zeolite Beta. Cyclohexanone can be converted to epsilon-caprolactone or 6-hydroxycaproic acid as a main product under selected conditions.