Patent ID: 6979753

Claim:
A process for the preparation of 2-phenyl ethanol comprising: subjecting a solution of styrene oxide in an organic solvent to catalytic transfer hydrogenation under stirring conditions, over a heterogeneous transition metal catalyst and in the presence of a hydrogen donor, wherein the heterogeneous transition metal catalyst contains a metal from the platinum group selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, and nickel along with a support, wherein the support for the catalyst is a saponite clay of the formula [Na + (x) {M 2+ (6) }{Si (8-x) Al (x) }O 20 (OH) 4 ] wherein M is magnesium or zinc, x is in the range of 0.2 to 2.0, terminating the reaction, and separating catalyst and 2-phenyl ethanol.