Patent ID: 8420869

Claim:
A process for the preparation of a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol, comprising: (A) continuously feeding to a hydrogenation zone hydrogen and a hydrogenatable reactant comprising a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-dione having the formula (I): wherein the hydrogen and hydrogenatable reactant are in the gas phase and R is a alkyl radical containing 1 to 8 carbon atoms; (B) continuously contacting the hydrogen and hydrogenatable reactant of step (A) under hydrogenation conditions of temperature and pressure with a catalyst comprising nickel, ruthenium, or combination thereof, to form a hydrogenation product comprising a 2,2,4,4-tetraalkylcyclobutane-1,3-diol having the formula (II): wherein the temperature is greater than the dew point of the hydrogenation product; and (C) continuously recovering from the hydrogenation zone a gaseous effluent comprising the hydrogenation product.