A method is provided for the production of 1-(4′-isobutylphenyl)ethanol (IBPE) comprising hydrogenating 4-isobutylacetophenone (IBAP) in the absence of a solvent using as a catalyst a treated activated sponge nickel catalyst, e.g., Raney nickel, obtained by subjecting such a catalyst wetted with a protective liquid composed preponderantly of water to a washing treatment with an organic washing liquid in which the aqueous protective liquid is substantially soluble and which is substantially soluble in IBAP or IBPE, e.g., a lower alkanol such as methanol, ethanol or isopropanol. The catalyst optionally may also be washed with IBAP or IBPE after the wash with the organic washing liquid and before being used in the hydrogenation reaction. The washing treatment results in substantially higher conversions IBAP and increased yields of IBPE with a practical reaction time.
本发明提供了一种生产1-(4′-
异丁基苯基)
乙醇(IBPE)的方法,该方法包括在无溶剂的情况下,使用经过处理的活性海绵
镍催化剂(如Raney
镍)作为催化剂对
4-异丁基苯乙酮(
IBAP)进行氢化、将这种用主要由
水组成的保护液润湿的催化剂用一种有机洗涤液(例如
甲醇、
乙醇或
异丙醇等低级烷醇)进行洗涤处理而得到,在这种有机洗涤液中,
水性保护液基本上是可溶的,并且基本上可溶于
IBAP 或 IBPE。催化剂在用有机洗涤液洗涤后,在用于氢化反应之前,也可以选择用
IBAP 或 IBPE 进行洗涤。洗涤处理可大大提高
IBAP 的转化率,增加 IBPE 的产率,并缩短反应时间。