Method for the production of neopentyl glycol

1. Method for preparing neopentyl glycol by addition of isobutyraldehyde and formaldehyde in the presence of a tertiary alkylamine as catalyst to give hydroxypivalaldehyde with subsequent hydrogenation at a temperature of 80 to 140° C. and at a pressure of 2 to 18 MPa in the liquid phase, characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of a copper chromite catalyst comprising the activators barium and manganese.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out in the presence of an aliphatic alcohol in an amount of 15 to 27% by weight, based on the organic component in the starting mixture.

3. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature of 110 to 140° C. and at a pressure of 4 to 15 MPa.

4. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are symmetrical tertiary alkylamines.

5. Method according to claim 4 , characterized in that the symmetrical tertiary alkylamines used are trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine or tri-n-butylamine.

6. Method according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are asymmetrical tertiary alkylamines or compounds having a plurality of trialkylamine functions.

7. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the aliphatic alcohols used are linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.

8. Method according to claim 7 , characterized in that methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, isopropanol, n-butanol, isobutanol, neopentyl glycol or mixtures thereof are used.

9. Method according to one or more of claim 1 , characterized in that the copper chromite catalyst comprises barium in an amount of 0.5 to 8% by weight and manganese in an amount of 0.5 to 8% by weight, in each case based on the total content of copper, chromium, barium and manganese.

10. Method according to claim 9 , characterized in that the copper chromite catalyst comprises barium in an amount of 1 to 4% by weight and manganese in an amount of 3 to 5% by weight, in each case based on the total content of copper, chromium, barium and manganese.

11. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the liquid phase used for the hydrogenation comprises water in an amount of more than 15 to 25% by weight based on the total amount used.

12. Method according to one or more of claim 1 , characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out in a tubular reactor without internals and without stirring devices.

13. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the hydrogenation is carried out at a temperature of 110 to 140° C. and at a pressure of 4 to 15 MPa.

14. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are symmetrical tertiary alkylamines.

15. Method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are symmetrical tertiary alkylamines.

16. Method according to claim 14 , characterized in that the symmetrical tertiary alkylamines used are trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine or tri-n-butylamine.

17. Method according to claim 15 , characterized in that the symmetrical tertiary alkylamines used are trimethylamine, triethylamine, tri-n-propylamine or tri-n-butylamine.

18. Method according to claim 2 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are asymmetrical tertiary alkylamines or compounds having a plurality of trialkylamine functions.

19. Method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the tertiary alkylamines used are asymmetrical tertiary alkylamines or compounds having a plurality of trialkylamine functions.

20. Method according to claim 3 , characterized in that the aliphatic alcohols used are linear or branched alcohols having 1 to 5 carbon atoms.