Process for the production of MIBC and /or IBHK plus TMN using copper-based catalysts
View Patent ↗MIBC and/or a mixture of IBHK and TMN is produced from MIBK by a process comprising the step of contacting MIBK with hydrogen under condensation/hydrogenation/dehydration reactive conditions and in the presence of a catalytic amount of a Cu-based condensation/hydrogenation/dehydration catalyst. The relative amounts of MIBC and the mixture of IBHK and TMN are controlled by the reaction temperature, a lower temperature, e.g., 130 C., favoring MIBC alone, and a higher temperature, e.g., 200 C., favoring a mixture of MIBC and IBHK plus TMN.
1. A method of increasing the amount of methyl isobutyl carbinol product relative to isobutyl heptyl ketone plus trimethyl nonanol product, both products made from contacting methyl isobutyl ketone with hydrogen and a Cu-based condensation/hydrogenation/dehydration catalyst under condensation/hydrogenation/dehydration reactive conditions which includes a reaction temperature, the method comprising the step of using a reaction temperature of less than 200° C. and the increase measured against a method identical to the method described except that the catalyst is Ni-based rather than Cu-based catalyst.
2. The method of claim 1 in which the reaction temperature is between 90 and 150° C.
3. The method of claim 2 in which the catalyst is a bi-functional copper-based aldol condensation catalyst.
4. The method of claim 3 in which the catalyst comprises one or more of Na, Ca, Mg and Li.
5. The method of claim 4 in which the catalyst further comprises Cr.
6. The method of claim 1 in which the catalyst is carried on a support comprising an aluminum oxide.
7. The method of claim 6 in which the support further comprises calcium aluminate.
8. The method of claim 6 in which the copper is present in an amount of 5 to 15% based on the weight of the catalyst.
9. The method of claim 1 in which the reactive conditions include liquid hourly space velocity of 0.5 to 1.5.
10. The method of claim 1 in which the hydrogen is present in a molar excess relative to the methyl isobutyl ketone.