Water → 2-Phenyl-1-propanol

Participants

Reaction Steps

Using the method described in Example 1(b), 1.2 parts per hour of a 50 percent strength by weight solution of 2-methyl-2-phenyl-3-hydroxypropanal in a 1:1 water-methanol mixture are hydrogenated, over the catalyst prepared as described in Example 1(a), at 130° C. and 30 bar, with a throughput of 0.3 part of 2-methyl-2-phenyl-3-hydroxypropanol per liter of catalyst per hour. The conversion is over 99 percent. The hydrogenated material is fractionated through a packed column. After first runnings of water, methanol, 2-phenylpropanol and 2-methyl-2-phenyl-3-hydroxypropanal, 2-methyl-2-phenyl-propane-1,3-diol, of boiling point 143°-145° C./1 mbar (melting point 80°-82° C.), is obtained in an amount corresponding to 0.5405 part per hour. This is equivalent to a yield of 89% of theory, based on starting material.

Provenance & Evidence