Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to afford an oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. This intermediate structure can then be further derivatized. The processes of this disclosure thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst to afford an oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. This intermediate structure can then be further derivatized. The processes of this disclosure thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst comprising a palladium compound to afford certain oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. The process of the invention thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

Provided is a process for the preparation of certain 1,4-bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives. The new synthetic procedure involves treating 1,4-dimethylene cyclohexane with an oxidizing agent in the presence of a transition metal catalyst comprising a palladium compound to afford certain oxo-substituted bicyclo[2.2.2]octane species. The process of the invention thus affords a novel and simplified means for the commercial production of a wide variety of bicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives.

A catalyst includes a support, where the support includes an external surface, about 60 wt % to about 99 wt % silica, and about 1.0 wt % to about 5.0 wt % alumina. A catalytic layer is disposed within the support adjacent to the external surface, where the catalytic layer further includes Pd, Au, and potassium acetate (KOAc). In the catalyst, (a) the KOAc is from about 60 kg/m.sup.3 to about 150 kg/m.sup.3 of the catalyst; or (b) the catalytic layer has an average thickness from about 50 m to about 150 m; or (c) both (a) and (b). The catalyst also possesses a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of about 130 m.sup.2/g to about 300 m.sup.2/g and a geometric surface area per packed bed volume from about 550 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 to about 1500 m.sup.2/m.sup.3. The catalyst is highly active for the synthesis of vinyl acetate monomer and exhibits a high selectivity for vinyl acetate monomer.

A catalyst includes a support, where the support includes an external surface, about 60 wt % to about 99 wt % silica, and about 1.0 wt % to about 5.0 wt % alumina. A catalytic layer is disposed within the support adjacent to the external surface, where the catalytic layer further includes Pd, Au, and potassium acetate (KOAc). In the catalyst, (a) the KOAc is from about 60 kg/m.sup.3 to about 150 kg/m.sup.3 of the catalyst; or (b) the catalytic layer has an average thickness from about 50 m to about 150 m; or (c) both (a) and (b). The catalyst also possesses a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of about 130 m.sup.2/g to about 300 m.sup.2/g and a geometric surface area per packed bed volume from about 550 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 to about 1500 m.sup.2/m.sup.3. The catalyst is highly active for the synthesis of vinyl acetate monomer and exhibits a high selectivity for vinyl acetate monomer.

A catalyst includes a support, where the support includes an external surface, about 60 wt % to about 99 wt % silica, and about 1.0 wt % to about 5.0 wt % alumina. A catalytic layer is disposed within the support adjacent to the external surface, where the catalytic layer further includes Pd, Au, and potassium acetate (KOAc). In the catalyst, (a) the KOAc is from about 60 kg/m.sup.3 to about 150 kg/m.sup.3 of the catalyst; or (b) the catalytic layer has an average thickness from about 50 m to about 150 m; or (c) both (a) and (b). The catalyst also possesses a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area of about 130 m.sup.2/g to about 300 m.sup.2/g and a geometric surface area per packed bed volume from about 550 m.sup.2/m.sup.3 to about 1500 m.sup.2/m.sup.3. The catalyst is highly active for the synthesis of vinyl acetate monomer and exhibits a high selectivity for vinyl acetate monomer.

The present invention provides a technique capable of adjusting the loading positions of gold and palladium in a VAM catalyst by a method of producing a palladium-gold loaded catalyst for vinyl acetate synthesis. The method includes a step of impregnating a spherical porous molded carrier of an inorganic oxide with a mixed aqueous solution containing a palladium precursor as a catalytically active species and a gold precursor as a co-catalyst component, and subsequently impregnating the resultant spherical porous molded carrier with an aqueous alkaline solution to water-insolubilize the palladium precursor and the gold precursor in the spherical porous molded carrier to obtain a palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier; and a subsequent step of adjusting the moisture content of the palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier.

The present invention provides a technique capable of adjusting the loading positions of gold and palladium in a VAM catalyst by a method of producing a palladium-gold loaded catalyst for vinyl acetate synthesis. The method includes a step of impregnating a spherical porous molded carrier of an inorganic oxide with a mixed aqueous solution containing a palladium precursor as a catalytically active species and a gold precursor as a co-catalyst component, and subsequently impregnating the resultant spherical porous molded carrier with an aqueous alkaline solution to water-insolubilize the palladium precursor and the gold precursor in the spherical porous molded carrier to obtain a palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier; and a subsequent step of adjusting the moisture content of the palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier.

The present invention provides a technique capable of adjusting the loading positions of gold and palladium in a VAM catalyst by a method of producing a palladium-gold loaded catalyst for vinyl acetate synthesis. The method includes a step of impregnating a spherical porous molded carrier of an inorganic oxide with a mixed aqueous solution containing a palladium precursor as a catalytically active species and a gold precursor as a co-catalyst component, and subsequently impregnating the resultant spherical porous molded carrier with an aqueous alkaline solution to water-insolubilize the palladium precursor and the gold precursor in the spherical porous molded carrier to obtain a palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier; and a subsequent step of adjusting the moisture content of the palladium-gold immobilized spherical porous molded carrier.