Hydrogenation of styrene oxide forming 2-phenyl ethanol

A process for the preparation of 2-phenyl ethanol using Pd(II) salt on a basic support as precatalyst without calcination, wherein said process comprises the steps of:

• (a) mixing styrene oxide, an organic solvent and Pd(II) salt on basic support as precatalyst under stirring followed by flushing the reaction mixture with hydrogen gas at a temperature ranging between 24° C. to 30° C.;
• (b) pressurizing the reaction mixture as obtained in step (a) with hydrogen gas at 400-800 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) followed by stirring at a speed rate ranging between 800-1300 revolutions per minute (rpm) at a temperature ranging between 24° C. to 30° C. for a period ranging between 1 h to 5 h, subsequently maintaining hydrogen pressure inside the reactor by intermittent supply of hydrogen gas;
• (c) depressurizing the reaction mixture as obtained in step (b) at a temperature ranging between 24° C. to 30° C.;
• (d) separating the catalyst Pd(0) on a basic support which generates in situ from the reaction mixture as obtained in step (c) by decantation/filtration and obtaining 2-phenyl ethanol with organic solvent;
• and
• (e) distilling the solvent from 2-phenyl ethanol with organic solvent as obtained in step (d) to obtain solid 2-phenyl ethanol.