Hydrogenation catalyst and hydrogenation process wherein said catalyst is used

Abstract

A hydrogenation catalyst prepared by combining one or more Group VIII metal compounds with one or more alkylalumoxanes and one or more alkyls or hydrides of a metal selected from the group consisting of the Group Ia, IIa, and IIa metals and a hydrogenation process wherein said catalyst is used to hydrogenate compounds containing ethylenic and/or aromatic unsaturation. Preferably, the one or more Group VIII metal compounds will be contacted sequentially with the one or more alkylalumoxanes and the one or more alkyls or hydrides, first with the one or more alkylalumoxanes and then with the one or more alkyls and/or hydrides. The one or more Group VIII metal compounds is selected from the group of compounds consisting of carboxylates, chelates, alkoxides, salts of acids containing sulfur, salts of partial esters of acids containing sulfur and salts of aliphatic and aromatic sulfonic acids. Nickel and cobalt compounds are preferred for use in the hydrogenation catalysts. Certain of the hydrogenation catalyst, particularly those prepared with a methylalumoxanes, initially exhibit less hydrogenation activity than catalysts known heretofore in the prior art and prepared with a metal alkyl and/or hydride of a metal selected from Groups Ia, IIa and IIIa of the Periodic Table of Elements. These catalysts, then, permit greater control over the extent of hydrogenation, particularly when partial hydrogenation is a desired end result. Ultimately, however, these catalyst permits substantially complete hydrogenation of both ethylenic and aromatic unsaturation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.