HYDROGENATION OF HEPTALDEHYDE TO HEPTYL ALCOHOL WITH NICKEL-CATALYSTS

Hydrogenation of heptaldehyde to heptyl alcohol was studied with W2 Ra ney nickel catalyst, prepared in the laboratory, commercial Raney nick el catalyst and Rufert nickel catalyst by varying temperature, catalys t concentration, hydrogen pressure and reaction time. The products wer e analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography on SE-30 column. The optimum c onditions found for quantitative conversion (99.6%) of heptaldehyde to heptyl alcohol were: temperature, 100-degrees-C, W2 Raney nickel cata lyst concentration, 2% based on heptaldehyde (w/w), hydrogen pressure, 145 psig and reaction time, 1 h.