Hydrogenation of styrene oxide to produce 2-phenylethanol

Process for producing 2-phenylethanol by reacting styrene oxide in the liquid phase with hydrogen in a closed reaction zone and in the presence of Raney nickel hydrogenation catalyst, which process comprises introducing styrene oxide into a reaction mixture comprising an organic liquid that is a solvent for styrene oxide and 2-phenylethanol and which is substantially unreactive with styrene oxide under the conditions of the process, and a catalytically effective quantity of Raney nickel hydrogenation catalyst, at a rate such that the proportion of unreacted styrene oxide in the reaction mixture does not exceed about 0.2 weight percent, based on weight of solvent plus contained 2-phenylethanol, the reaction mixture being maintained at a temperature and hydrogen pressure sufficient to effect reaction between said styrene oxide and hydrogen to produce 2-phenylethanol, said hydrogen pressure being at least about 250 p.s.i.g.