Transfer-hydrogenation process

US9988329B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Eastman Chemical Company · US

Inventors

• Mesfin Ejerssa Janka · Kingsport, US
• Robert Thomas Hembre · Johnson City, US
• Scott Donald Barnicki · Kingsport, US
• Robert Scott Huss · Kingsport, US
• Xiaopeng Shan · Plano, US
• Stephanie Rollins Testerman · Kingsport, US
• Timothy Alan Upshaw · Kingsport, US
• Dewey W. Fuller, Jr. · Bristol, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 8, 2017
• Grant date: Jun 5, 2018
• Expiry date: Feb 8, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/10
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A transfer-hydrogenation process for preparing a carbonyl compound and an alcohol compound comprises the steps of (a) contacting a first carbonyl compound with a first alcohol compound in the presence of a transfer-hydrogenation catalyst in a first reaction zone at conditions effective to form a second carbonyl compound from the first alcohol compound and a second alcohol compound from the first carbonyl compound, and (b) removing the second carbonyl compound from the first reaction zone during step (a). The first carbonyl compound is a saturated aldehyde or ketone, or an α,β-unsaturated aldehyde or ketone. The first alcohol compound is a primary or secondary alcohol. The second alcohol compound is α,β-saturated. The transfer-hydrogenation catalyst includes a Group 8 to 11 metal. This process is useful for preparing and higher value alcohols, such as butanol or 2-ethylhexanol, from the corresponding carbonyl compounds by engaging lower alcohol (C2-C4) feedstocks instead of hydrogen (H2).