Patent ID: 7521583

Claim:
A process for producing a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol of Formula II, comprising contacting a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-dione with hydrogen in the presence of a cobalt-based catalyst under conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to form a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol, wherein each of the alkyl radicals R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and R 4 has, independently from each other, 1 to 8 carbon atoms; and wherein the cis/trans molar ratio of the 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol is from 0.4 to 0.8; wherein the cobalt-based catalyst consists essentially of cobalt as the catalytic metal; wherein the catalyst comprises a support of silica or alumina; and wherein the selectivity is greater than about 65%.