Process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P.sup.1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P.sup.0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K.sup.2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K.sup.1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K.sup.1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

Process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of a secondary fatty alcohol, said process P.sup.1 comprising synthesizing an internal ketone K1 by a process P.sup.0 comprising the decarboxylative ketonization reaction of a fatty acid or the like in a liquid phase with a metal compound as catalyst in a reaction medium, wherein a ketone K.sup.2 at liquid state, which is identical or similar to the internal ketone K.sup.1, is introduced into the reaction medium, and subjecting the internal ketone K.sup.1 to a hydrogenation reaction with hydrogen gas as hydrogenating agent to form the secondary fatty alcohol. Use of the secondary fatty alcohol manufactured by the process P.sup.1 for the manufacture of an internal olefin or of an internal olefin sulfonate.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation, surfactant forming reactions and other derivative forming reactions.

A process for producing isomerized olefins, branched aldehydes, branched alcohols, branched surfactants and other branched derivatives through isomerization, hydroformylation, hydrogenation, surfactant forming reactions and other derivative forming reactions.

The present invention relates to an improved chromium-free Cu—Al catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds, characterized in that the catalyst contains zirconium in a proportion of 0.5 to 30.0 wt. %. The invention also relates to the production of the catalyst and to the use of same in the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds.

The present invention relates to an improved chromium-free Cu—Al catalyst for the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds, characterized in that the catalyst contains zirconium in a proportion of 0.5 to 30.0 wt. %. The invention also relates to the production of the catalyst and to the use of same in the hydrogenation of carbonyl groups in organic compounds.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

The present invention relates to processes for preparing isoprene and mono-olefins comprising at least six carbon atoms. In one aspect, a process comprises (a) hydroformylating a mixed C4 olefin stream, wherein the mixed C4 olefin stream comprises 1-butene, 2-butene, and optionally isobutene, with a hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation catalyst comprises rhodium with monodentate organophosphorous ligand and optionally polydentate organophosphorous ligand, to produce a mixture comprising linear and branched C5 aldehydes; (b) separating the branched C5 aldehydes from the linear C5 aldehydes to provide a branched C5 aldehyde stream and a linear C5 aldehyde stream; (c) dehydrating the branched C5 aldehydes in the branched C5 aldehyde stream using a dehydration catalyst to form a stream comprising isoprene; (d) hydrogenating the linear C5 aldehydes in the linear C5 aldehyde stream to form a C5 alcohol stream; (e) dehydrating the C5 alcohols in the C5 alcohol stream with a second dehydration catalyst to form a C5 olefin stream; (f) hydroformylating the C5 olefins in the C5 olefin stream to generate a C6 aldehyde stream; (g) hydrogenating the C6 aldehydes in the C6 aldehyde stream to form a C6 alcohol stream; and (h) dehydrating the C6 alcohols in the C6 alcohol stream with a third dehydration catalyst to form a C6 olefin stream.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.

Processes for converting a hydrocarbon reactant into an alcohol compound and/or a carbonyl compound are disclosed in which the hydrocarbon reactant and either a supported chromium (VI) catalyst or a supported chromium (II) catalyst are contacted, optionally with UV-visible light irradiation, followed by exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere and then hydrolysis to form a reaction product containing the alcohol compound and/or the carbonyl compound. The presence of oxygen significant increases the amount of alcohol/carbonyl product formed, as well as the formation of oxygenated dimers and trimers of certain hydrocarbon reactants.