GB398982A - Improvements in the manufacture and production of alcohols - Google Patents

Abstract

Unsaturated, especially aliphatic, aldehydes and ketones containing more than 15 carbon atoms are converted into unsaturated alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation under mild conditions. The process may be carried out in either the vapour or liquid phase, in presence or absence of inert solvents, and preferably under pressure. If highly efficient catalysts such as platinum, palladium, cobalt, or nickel are used their activity is reduced by poisoning with organic sulphur compounds or by dilution with weaker catalysts. The preferred catalysts are copper, zinc and cadmium and their compounds, particularly chromates, chromites, manganates, manganites, molybdates, tungstates and uranates. Activating additions such as the oxides of the alkali and alkaline earth metals including magnesium and aluminium may be employed and may be combined with the catalytic metal in such forms as calcium zincate and zinc aluminate. Alcohols which may be prepared according to the invention are oleyl alcohol, heptadecenyl methyl carbinol, di-heptadecenyl carbinol, heptadecenyl decenyl carbinol, heptadecenyl propyl carbinol, phenyldecenyl alcohol. Typical examples describe the hydrogenation of (1) heptadecenyl methyl ketone (obtained according to Specification 391,113) at 100 DEG C. and 50 atmospheres using a copper-aluminium catalyst, (2) oleic aldehyde at 100 DEG C. and 20 atmospheres with a copper catalyst, (3) heptadecenyl methyl ketone at 200 DEG C. and 100 atmospheres with a basic zinc chromate catalyst, (4) di-heptadecenyl ketone with a copper chromate catalyst.ALSO:Unsaturated, especially aliphatic, aldehydes and ketones containing more than 15 carbon atoms are converted into unsaturated alcohols by catalytic hydrogenation under mild conditions. The process may be carried out in either the vapour or liquid phase, in presence or absence of inert solvents, and preferably under increased pressure. If highly efficient catalysts such as platinum, palladium, cobalt, or nickel are used their activity should be reduced by poisoning e.g. with organic sulphur compounds or by dilution with weaker catalysts. The preferred catalysts are copper, zinc, and cadmium and their compounds, particularly their chromites, chromates, manganites, manganates, molybdates, tungstates, and uranates. The catalysts may be activated by addition of oxides and hydroxides of the alkali and alkaline earth metals including magnesium and aluminium; these oxides may be chemically combined with the catalytic oxides forming substances such as calcium zincate, zinc aluminate, copper manganite &c. Typical examples describe the hydrogenation of (1) heptadecenyl methyl ketone (obtained according to Specification 391,113) at 100 DEG C. and 50 atmospheres pressure using a copper-aluminium catalyst; (2) oleic aldehyde at 100 DEG C. and 20 atmospheres using a copper catalyst; (3) heptadecenyl methyl ketone at 200 DEG C. and 100 atmospheres with a basic zinc chromate catalyst; (4) heptadecenyl methyl ketone and di-heptadecenyl ketone with a copper chromate catalyst. The Specification also refers to the production of heptadecenyl decenyl carbinol, heptadecenyl propyl carbinol, phenyl-decenyl alcohol, and phenyl-decenyl ethyl carbinol.