PREPARATION OF SUBSTITUTED CARBONYL-COMPOUNDS BY CATALYTIC DEHYDROGENATION OF SUBSTITUTED ALCOHOLS

Possibilities for the preparation of substituted ketones by catalytic dehydrogenation of corresponding secondary alcohols were explored usin g a ZnO-Cr2O3 catalyst at 370-400-degrees-C. It was found that additio n of about 1 wt% of sodium to the catalyst increases the yield of the ketone because the competitive dehydration of the alcohol is suppresse d. Further improvement of the process was achieved by adding 20 wt% of water to the alcohol feed, which inhibited catalyst deactivation. Pre parative experiments were conducted and 1-methoxy-2-propanone, 1-metho xy-2-butanone, 1-phenoxy-2-propanone and 2-methoxy-1-cyclohexanone wer e obtained.