Continuous process for conversion of dimethyldicyclopentadiene to endo-dimethyldicyclopentadiene, a missile fuel

Process for the continuous conversion of endodimethyldicyclopentadiene to exo-tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene comprising:

• a. hydrogenating endo dimethyldicyclopentadiene by contacting the diene with nickel on a silica-alumina catalyst wherein the volume of the diene charged to the volume of the catalyst per hour is in the range from about 0.1 to about 2.0 and the moles of hydrogen present per mole of the diene is in the range from about 5 to about 40 and the contacting temperature is in the range of between from about 165.degree. C. to about 204.degree. C. and the pressure is in the range from about 200 psig to about 3000 psig and continuing the contacting until the diene is hydrogenated to tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene;
• and
• b. isomerizing, in the presence of hydrogen, the tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene by contacting it with nickel on a silica-alumina catalyst wherein the volume of the tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene charged to the volume of the catalyst per hour is in the range from about 0.1 to about 3.0 and the contacting temperature is in the range from about 220.degree. C. to about 260.degree. C., and the pressure is in the range from about 10 psig to about 1500 psig and continuing the contacting of the tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene until exo-tetrahydrodimethyldicyclopentadiene is formed.