Catalytic conversion of ethanol to a 1-butanol-containing reaction product using a thermally decomposed hydrotalcite/metal carbonate

1. A process for making a reaction product comprising 1-butanol, comprising:

contacting a reactant comprising ethanol with a catalyst at a reaction temperature and pressure sufficient to produce said reaction product, wherein said catalyst is derived from a hydrotalcite of the formula:

[[( M 2+ 1−x M 3+ x (OH) 2 )(A n− x/n )]• y H 2 O][ M′A′] z

wherein

M 2+ is divalent Mg, or a combination of Mg and at least one divalent member selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Fe, and Cu;

M 3+ is trivalent Al, or a combination of trivalent Al and at least one trivalent member selected from the group consisting of Fe and Cr;

x is 0.66 to 0.1;

A n− is CO 3 2− with n=2, or OH − with n=1;

M′A′ is a carbonate of at least one divalent metal M′ selected from the group consisting of Zn, Ni, Pd, Pt, Co, Fe, and Cu; and A′ is carbonate;

z is any number between 0.001 and 0.5 inclusive; and

y is 0 to 4,

wherein the hydrotalcite catalyst is partially decomposed.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the decomposition is achieved by heating for a time and at a temperature sufficient to cause a diminution in the hydrotalcite powder X-ray diffraction pattern peak intensities between 2θ angles of 10 degrees and 70 degrees using CuKα radiation.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is divalent Mg.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 3+ is trivalent Al.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein M′A′ is a carbonate where M′ is Cu and A′ is carbonate.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein A n− is CO 3 2− .

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein M 2+ is Mg; M 3+ is Al; x is 0.25; A n− is CO 3 2− ; n is 2; M′ is Cu 2+ ; A′ is CO 3 2− z is 0.013; and y is 0 to 4.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein said reaction temperature is from about 200° C. to about 500° C., and said pressure is from about 0.1 MPa to about 20.7 MPa.