Acrolein → 1,4-Butanediol

Participants

Reaction Steps

One or more objects of the present invention are accomplished by the provision of a process for producing 1,4-butanediol which comprises (1) reacting acrolein with hydrogen in the vapor phase in the presence of a catalyst comprising a silver-cadmium alloy, wherein the atomic ratio of silver to cadmium in the alloy is in the range between about 0.1 and 3 to 1, to yield a hydrogenation product mixture containing allyl alcohol; (2) contacting the allyl alcohol product mixture with hydrogen and carbon monoxide under hydroformylation conditions to yield a product mixture containing 4-hydroxybutanal; (3) separating the 4-hydroxybutanal from the product mixture; and (4) hydrogenating the 4-hydroxybutanal to produce 1,4-butanediol.

Provenance & Evidence