Process for selectively opening naphthenic rings

A process for selectively opening rings of ring compounds in a feedstream wherein at least about 50 wt. % of the ring compounds in the feedstream are characterized as containing at least one C.sub.6 ring having at least one substituent containing 3 or more carbon atoms, which substituents are selected from the group consisting of fused 5-membered rings;

• fused 6-membered rings;
• C.sub.3 or greater alkyl or cycloalkyl groups;
• and aryl groups,
• which process comprises contacting said feedstream with a catalyst component in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature from about 150.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C., a total pressure of 0 to 3000 psig,
• which catalyst is comprised of an effective amount of Ir on a catalyst support having an acidity to promote isomerization, which catalyst when reacted with a feed comprised of 20 wt. % n-butylcyclohexane in heptane diluent, at a temperature of 150.degree. C. to 350.degree. C., a hydrogen treat rate of 2,000 standard cubic feet per barrel on liquid feed, a total pressure of 500 psig, and a liquid hourly space velocity of at least 5 on liquid feed, will result in:
• a) at least a 15% yield of C.sub.10 paraffins:
• and b) a selectivity of at least 0.30, which selectivity is defined as %C.sub.10 paraffin yield/%C.sub.10 ring disappearance.

A two stage process for selectively opening rings of ring compounds in a feedstream wherein at least about 50 wt. % of the ring compounds in the feedstream are characterized as containing at least one C.sub.6 ring having at least one substituent containing 3 or more carbon atoms, which substituents are selected from the group consisting of fused 5-membered rings, fused 6-membered rings, C.sub.3 or greater alkyl or cycloalkyl groups and aryl groups,

• which process comprises:
• contacting said feedstream in a first reaction zone with a first catalyst containing an acidic function effective to promote isomerization without an undesirable level of severance of any substituent groups on the ring;
• passing the so-treated feedstream to a second reaction zone where it is contacted with a second catalyst in the presence of hydrogen at a temperature from about 150.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C., a total pressure of 0 to 1200 psig,
• which second catalyst is comprised of an effective amount of a metal selected from Ir, Ru, or a mixture thereof, on a catalyst support which is substantially non-acidic, which catalyst when reacted with a feed comprised of 20 wt. % n-butylcyclohexane in heptane diluent, at a temperature of 150.degree. C. to 350.degree. C., a hydrogen treat rate of 2,000 standard cubic feet per barrel on liquid feed, a total pressure of 500 psig, and a liquid hourly space velocity of at least 5 on liquid feed, will result in:
• a) at least a 10% yield of C.sub.10 paraffins:
• and b) a selectivity of at least 0.20, which selectivity is defined as %C.sub.10 paraffin yield/%C.sub.10 ring disappearance.