Hydrogenation catalysts and their use.

摘要

A process for the hydrogenation of carboxylic acids and esters to form the corresponding aldehydes involves reaction with a reducing gas at a temperature from 300 to 500 DEG and a pressure from 200 mm Hg to 100 atm. in the presence of a manganese dioxide catalyst supported on an activated alumina or an yttrium oxide catalyst which has been treated with copper, the catalyst comprising from 1 to 15 wt.% of copper and from 99 to 85 wt.% of yttrium, on an elemental basis. The catalyst is also claimed.