Patent ID: 8394997

Claim:
A process for the isomerization of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol, comprising contacting a starting 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol having a molar ratio of cis to trans isomers of about 0:1 to about 1.5:1 with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising about 0.1 to about 10 weight percent ruthenium, based on the total weight of the catalyst, deposited on a support, to produce an isomerized 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol having a different molar ratio of cis to trans isomers than the starting 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol, wherein the process has no net production of 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol.