Patent ID: 9000229
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A hydrogenolysis process comprising: (a) feeding hydrogen and a cyclic compound composition to a reaction zone within a reaction vessel, said cyclic compound composition comprising cyclic acetal compounds having two oxygen atoms single bonded to the same carbon atom in the ring structure, cyclic ketal compounds having two oxygen atoms single bonded to the same carbon atom in the ring structure, or a combination thereof, and (b) conducting a reaction in the reaction zone comprising contacting the hydrogen with at least a portion of the cyclic compound composition in the vapor phase in the reaction zone under reaction zone conditions above the dew point of the cyclic compound composition to produce hydroxy ether hydrocarbons having at least one ether linkage and at least one primary hydroxyl group, and (c) withdrawing a product stream from the reaction zone comprising the hydroxy ether hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and if present any unreacted cyclic compounds; wherein the selectivity to the hydroxy ether hydrocarbons is greater than 80 mole %.