Process for preparing 1,6-hexanediol

A process comprising:

• a) contacting levoglucosenone with hydrogen in the presence of a first hydrogenation catalyst at a first temperature between about 25° C. and about 150° C. to form product mixture (I) comprising one or more of levoglucosenol, levoglucosanol, tetrahydrofuran 2,5-dimethanol, 2-hydroxymethyltetrahydropyran, 1,2,5,6-tetrahydroxyhexane, 1,2,6-hexanetriol, and 2-hydroxymethyl-5-hydroxytetrahydropyran;
• b) heating product mixture (I) in the presence of hydrogen and a second hydrogenation catalyst at a second temperature between about 120° C. and about 260° C. to form product mixture (II) comprising 1,6-hexanediol;
• c) isolating the 1,6-hexanediol from product mixture (II)
• d) contacting the 1,6-hexanediol with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a reductive amination catalyst at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form an amination product mixture comprising 1,6-diaminohexane;
• and
• e) optionally, isolating the 1,6-diaminohexane from the amination product mixture.