SYNTHESIS OF 3-ALKOXY-2,2-DIMETHYL-PROPAN-1-OLS BY HYDROGENATION OF 2-SUBSTITUTED 5,5-DIMETHYL-[1,3]DIOXANES USING COPPER-CATALYSTS .1. INVESTIGATIONS IN THE GAS-PHASE

The gas phase hydrogenation of 2-substituted 5,5-dimethyl-[1,3]dioxane s to 3-alkoxy-2,2-dimethyl-propan-1-ols and in particular the reductio n of 5,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-[1,3]dioxane to 3-benzyloxy-2,2-dimethyl-pr opan-1-ol have been investigated within the temperature range of 175 t o 300 degrees C over copper-loaded catalysts. As main catalyst system for these investigations, a Cu/H-[B]-MFI type zeolite was chosen. Othe r carriers for copper as silicalite-1, H-[Al]-ZSM-5 zeolite, SiO2 and Al2O3 have also been tested in that hydrogenation reaction.